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MAJOR-GENERAL ZACIIARY TAYLOR. 
 
TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS, 
 
 A BIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR; 
 
 AND SKETCHES OF THE LIVES OF 
 
 GENERALS WORTH, WOOL, AND TWIGGS; 
 
 H A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE VARIOUS ACTIONS OF THEIR DIVISIONS 
 IN MEXICO UP TO THE PRESENT TIME: 
 
 TOGETHER WITH A SKETCH OF THE 
 
 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT, 
 
 AND AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 THE OPERATIONS OF HIS DIVISIONS IN MEXICO. 
 HmbelltsjjeTj toftft -portrafts aixti Enaratotnjjs 
 
 HARTFORD, CONN.: 
 SILAS ANDRUS & SON. 
 
 1848. 
 
TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 A BIOGRAPHY OF 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL ZACHARY TAYLOR; 
 
 AND SKETCHES OF THE LIVES OF 
 
 GENERALS WORTH, WOOL, AND TWIGGS; 
 
 'riTH A FULL ACCOUNT OF THE VARIOUS ACTIONS OF THEIR DIVISIONS 
 IN MEXICO UP TO THE PRESENT TIME 
 
 TOGETHER WITH A SKETCH OF THE 
 
 LIFE OF MAJOR-GENERAL WINFIELD SCOTT, 
 
 AND AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 THE OPERATIONS OF HIS DIVISIONS IN MEXICO. 
 SBmbellfstjea toftt) portraits autj fSnfivabins* 
 
 HARTFORD, CONN.: 
 
 SILAS ANDRUS & SON. 
 
 1848, 
 
rn 
 
 Entered according to an Act of Congress, in the year 1847, by 
 
 E. H. BUTLER & Co., 
 
 JD tho Clerk's Office of the District Court in and for the Eastern 
 District of Pennsylvania. 
 
 Ivm. ry. "7 
 
 E. B. MEABS, STEREOTYrEH. 
 SMITH AMP PETERS, mi.VTF.RS. 
 
PREFACE. 
 
 There probably has never been, in the course of oat 
 brief history as a nation, a time of such intense general 
 excitement, as that immediately preceding the first 
 engagement between the Americans and the Mexicans 
 in the present war. We have perhaps had on other 
 occasions excitements of a local character equally in- 
 tense. But in this instance the feeling was of the most 
 pervading kind, reaching every part of the great repub- 
 lic. We have perhaps had other causes that have 
 agitated more deeply and gravely the foundations of 
 society ; but here, the lack of depth to the general feel- 
 ing seemed to be compensated by its intensity. It was 
 not so much the deep and distant upheavings of the 
 earthquake, as the wild and frightful sweep of the hur- 
 ricane. It was as if the whole American people had 
 been suddenly changed into one mass, as if the whole 
 twenty millions had become one man, and stood with 
 listening ear to hear the first sound that should be 
 borne upon the southern breeze. It was not unlike 
 the human body, when a painful surgical operation is 
 about to be performed on some one point. Every other 
 part or limb is alive with apprehension. The whole 
 body seems to live in that one spot where the point of 
 .he knife is about to enter. So was it here. The whole 
 
IV PREFACE. 
 
 American people seemed for a day or two to live at 
 Point Isabel. The heart of a great people seemed for 
 a time to send its every pulsation through that small 
 and distant artery. Then it was — in that moment of 
 breathless anxiety — when the whole nation, wrought 
 to a state of wild excitement, turned its expectant eye 
 towards the banks of the Rio Grande, that the anxious 
 inquiry arose spontaneously in every quarter, 
 WHO IS GENERAL TAYLOR ? 
 The answer has been given — an answer that has sent 
 through the heart of the American people a thrill of 
 delight as intense and pervading as ihe anxiety which 
 preceded it — an answer written in living characters upon 
 the fields of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, Monterey, 
 and Buena Vista. The present volume is the transcript 
 of that answer. It is a translation into words of those 
 glorious deeds by which Taylor and his generals, and 
 his illustrious compeer told the world, who and what 
 they are. It is an attempt to place within the reach of 
 every American citizen, a permanent and lively recoid 
 of deeds and men that will for ever form a part of. the 
 ; nheritance of American patriotism. 
 
CONTENTS 
 
 CHAPTER I. 
 
 Early life of General Taylor — Enters the Army as Lieutenant- 
 Promoted to a Captaincy— Service in the War of 1812 — Gal 
 lant defence of Fort Harrison — Promotion to the rank of 
 JMajor Page 13 
 
 CHAPTER II. 
 
 Promotion to the rank of Colonel — Service in Florida — Battle 
 of Okee Chobee 23 
 
 CHAPTER III. 
 
 Promotion to the rank of General — Commands the Army of 
 Occupation — Commencement of hostilities , , . 40 
 
 CHAPTER IV. 
 
 Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca da la Palma— Captain May's 
 brilliant charge — Retreat of the Mexicans 5~ 
 
 CHAPTER V. 
 Taylor's humanity — Exchange of prisoners — Our army crosses 
 the Rio Grande — Capture of Matamoras 75 
 
 CHAPTER VI. 
 Siege and capture of Monterey ......... 81 
 
VI CONTENTS. 
 
 CHAPTER VII. 
 The battle of Buena Vista 140 
 
 CHAPTER VIII. 
 Anecdotes and incidents of the battle of Buena Vista — In- 
 stances of individual gallantry — Notices of distinguished 
 officers among the slam — Santa Anna's Despatch . . 178 
 
 CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Events subsequent to the battle of Buena Vista . . . 210 
 
 Worth .'..... 217 
 
 Wool 239 
 
 Twiggs , . 26 
 
 A Sketch of- the Life of General Scott, with an Account of 
 the Bombardment of Vera Cruz 269 
 
MAJOR-GE.VERAL ZACHARY TAYLCK. 
 
TAYLOR 
 
 AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 CHAPTER I 
 
 Early life of General Taylor — Enters the Army as Lieutenant- 
 Promoted to a Captaincy — Service in the War of 1812 — Gal- 
 lant defence of Fort Harrison— Promotion to the rank of 
 Major. 
 
 General Zachary Taylor was born in Orange 
 county, Virginia, in the year 1790. His father, Colonel 
 Richard Taylor, soon after the birth of Zachary, removed 
 his residence to the state of Kentucky, and settled near 
 Louisville. 
 
 At the age of six years, Zachary Taylor was placed 
 under a private tutor, Mr. Ayres, who was peculiarly 
 fitted for the task of instruction, and gave that true di- 
 rection to the dawning powers of his pupil which sub- 
 sequent events have so signally evinced. 
 
 With respect to the general's youth, all accounts 
 agree in describing it as one of rare promise for a mili- 
 tary man. He early showed a predilection for the 
 exercises and accomplishments which become a soldier; 
 and he clearly exhibited those traits of character which 
 a soldier's life demands. 
 
14 IAYLOII AIxD HIS GENERALS. 
 
 His desire to enter the army was gratified by his father, 
 ■whose influence obtained for him in the year 1808 a 
 I'ieutenancy in the seventh regiment of infantry of the 
 United States army. This period was one in which the 
 irritation of our countrymen against Great Britain, in 
 consequence of her impressments of seamen and seizure 
 of merchant vessels under orders in council, was greatly 
 aggravated by the outrageous attack on the frigate Ches- 
 apeake. Everything portended an immediate war. 
 
 Before the war broke out in 1812 he had risen to the 
 rank of captain, and being ordered for service in the 
 western country, he was engaged in repelling the border 
 warfare of the Indians, which immediately succeeded 
 the fall of Detroit and the surrender of General Hull's 
 army. 
 
 The first notice which we find in the history of the 
 war of Captain Taylor's operations, is the account of 
 his splendid defence of Fort Harrison. 
 
 Captain Taylor, says Mr. Palmer, commander at Fort 
 Harrison, having received information of the approach of 
 the hostile Indians a short time before they made their 
 appearance, had used every precaution that the smallness 
 of his garrison would admit of. The first hostile symp- 
 toms appeared on the evening o f th j 3d of September, 
 when two young men, who hud been employed a short 
 distance from the fort, were shot and scalped, and were 
 found in that condition the next morning by a small parly 
 that had been sent out to seek them. This circumstance 
 caused them to redouble their vigilance ; and the officers 
 of the guard w^ere directed to walk the round all night, 
 in order if possible to prevent any surprise. 
 
 About 11 o'clock on the evening of the 4th, the gar- 
 rison being alarmed by the firing or one o( the sentinels, 
 every man instantly flew to his post. In a few minutes 
 
TAYLOR 15 
 
 the cry of fire added to the alarm ; when it was dis- 
 covered that the lower block-house, in which had been 
 deposited the property of the contractor, had been fired 
 by the Indians. Such was the darkness of the night, 
 that although the upper part of the building was occupied 
 by a corporal's guard as an alarm post, yet the Indians 
 succeeded in firing it undiscovered, and unfortunately, a 
 few minutes after the discovery of the fire, it communi- 
 cated to a quantity of whiskey that had been deposited 
 there, and immediately ascended to the roof, baffling 
 every effort that was made to extinguish it. As the 
 block-house adjoined the barracks, which constituted 
 part of the fortifications, most cf the men gave them- 
 selves up for lost ; and indeed the raging of the fire, the 
 yells of the Indians, and the cries of the women and 
 children (who had taken refuge in the fort), were suffi- 
 cient to appal the stoutest heart. Happily the presence 
 of mind of the commander never forsook him. He in- 
 stantly stationed a part of his men on the roof of the 
 barracks, with orders to tear off that part adjoining the 
 block-house, while the remainder kept up a constant fire 
 on the Indians from another block-house and two bas- 
 tions. The roof was torn ofT under a shower of bullets 
 from without, by which, however, only one man was 
 killed and two wounded. 
 
 By this success the soldiers were inspired with firm- 
 ness, and now used such exertions, that before day 
 they had not only extinguished the fire, but raised a 
 breast-work five or six feet high in the gap occasioned 
 by the burning of the block-house, although the Indiana 
 continued to pour in a heavy fire of ball and showers 
 of arrows during the whole time the attack lasied (which 
 was seven hours), in every part of the parade. 
 
 On the first appearance of the fire, two of the soldiers 
 
16 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 had, in despair, jumped the pickets. One of them re- 
 turned about an hour before day, and, running up 
 towards the gate, begged for God's sake that it mighl 
 be opened. On suspicion that it was an Indian strata- 
 gem, he was fired at. He then ran to the other bastion 
 where, his voice being known, he was directed to lie 
 down till day-light behind an empty barrel that happened 
 to be outside of the pickets. This poor fellow was shock- 
 ingly wounded, and his companion cut to pieces by the 
 Indians. 
 
 After keeping up a constant fire till six in the morning, 
 w T hich after day-light was returned with considerable 
 effect by the garrison, the Indians retreated out of reach 
 of the guns. They then drove together all the horses 
 and hogs in the neighbourhood, and shot them in sight 
 of their owners. The whole of the homed cattle they 
 succeeded in carrying off. 
 
 In this attack the Americans had but three killed and 
 three wounded, including the two that jumped the 
 pickets. The Indian loss was supposed to be conside- 
 rable, but as they always carry off both their dead and 
 wounded, the amount could not be ascertained. At the 
 moment of the attack there were only fifteen effective 
 men in the garrison, the others being either sick or con- 
 valescent. 
 
 The Indians, disheartened by this failure, made no 
 further attempt on the fort, but the garrison still re- 
 mained in a perilous situation, as the greater part of 
 their provisions had been destroyed by the fire, and the 
 loss of their stock prevented future supplies. Captain 
 Taylor therefore attempted to send, by night, two men 
 in a canoe down the river to Vincennes, to make known 
 his situation, but they were forced to return, the river 
 being found too well guarded. The Indians had made 
 
TAYLOR. 17 
 
 a fire on the bank of the river, a short distance below 
 the garrison, which gave them an opportunity of seeing 
 any craft that might attempt to pass, with a canoe ready 
 below to intercept it. A more fortunate attempt was 
 made by land, and the garrison was immediately after 
 relieved by the force under General Hopkins, consisting 
 of nearly 4000 men. 
 
 After the relief of Fort Harrison, Hopkins began his 
 preparations for his expedition against the Peoria towns. 
 They commenced their march on the morning of the 
 15th of October, and continued it for four days in a 
 direction nearly north. But here the spirit of insub- 
 ordination began to show itself. The general states in 
 his official despatch, that having ordered a halt in the 
 afternoon of the 4th day, in a fine piece of grass, for the 
 purpose of refreshing the horses, he was addressed by 
 one of his majors, in the most rude and dictatorial man- 
 ner, requiring him instantly to resume his march, or his 
 battalion would break from the army and return. Of 
 the reply of the general to this modest request we are 
 not informed. Next evening, however, an event took 
 place, which seems to have spread the spirit of discon- 
 tent through the whole detachment. A violent gust of 
 wind having arisen about sun-set, just as the troops had 
 encamped, the Indians set fire to the prairie all around 
 them, which drove furiously on the camp. They suc- 
 ceeded, however, in firing the grass around the encamp- 
 ment. 
 
 Next morning, in consequence of the discontent that 
 prevailed, the general called a council of his officers, to 
 whom he stated his apprehensions, the expectations of 
 the country, and the disgrace attending the failure of the 
 expedition ; and, on the other hand, the exhausted state 
 of the horses, and the want of provisions. He then re- 
 
18 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 quested the commandants of each regiment to convene 
 the whole of the officers belonging to it, and to take 
 fully the sense of the army on the measures to be pur- 
 sued ; adding, that if 500 volunteers turned out he 
 would put himself at their head, and proceed in quest 
 of the Indian towns, and the rest of the army might 
 return to Fort Harrison. In less than an hour the report 
 was made almost unanimously to return. In vain did 
 the general request that he might dictate the course for 
 that day only. His authority was now at an end ; and 
 all the efforts of the officers were necessary to restore 
 order in the ranks, and to conduct the retreat without 
 danger from the surrounding though unseen foe. 
 
 Though this expedition returned almost without obtain- 
 ing the sight of an enemy, yet it was not altogether 
 unproductive of benefit. The Indians of the neighbour- 
 ing towns, hearing of its approach, had marched the 
 greater part of their warriors to meet it, leaving their 
 villages in a defenceless condition. In this state they 
 were found by Colonel Russell, who had marched upon 
 them in the expectation of meeting with Hopkins' army, 
 and his detachment attacked and defeated those who had 
 been left behind. Having driven them into a swamp, 
 through which the rangers pursued them for three miles, 
 up to their waists in mud and water, he returned and 
 burnt their towns, and destroyed their corn. The num- 
 ber of warriors who advanced to meet Hopkins from 
 those towns is stated to have amounted to 700 ; Russell's 
 force consisted of not more than 400 men. A conside- 
 rable number of Indians were killed in this attack. On 
 the part of the Americans there were only four wounded, 
 none of them mortally. 
 
 Craig's force was still smaller than that under Russell ; 
 il is stated to have consisted o( not more than 80 men. 
 
TAYLOR. 19 
 
 With this small body he marched up the Illinois river, 
 twenty miles above the town destroyed by Russell. 
 Here he attacked an Indian settlement, which he totally 
 destroyed, with all the improvements, and took forty-two 
 prisoners, one of them an Englishman, and a large col- 
 lection of furs. He returned with his prisoners and 
 booty, without the loss of a man. 
 
 In the month of November another Indian expedition 
 was undertaken by General Hopkins, with about 1250 
 men. This was directed against the towns on the 
 Wabash, where the battle of Tippecanoe had been fought 
 about twelve months before. Having left Fort Harrison 
 on the 11th, accompanied with boats for the transporta- 
 tion of provisions, forage, and military stores, Hopkins 
 arrived at the Prophet's town on the 19th, without inter- 
 ruption. Early in the morning of that day, 300 men 
 were detached -to surprise the Winnebago town, on Ponce 
 Passu creek, a short distance below the Prophet's. 
 Having surrounded it about the break of day, they were 
 surprised to find it evacuated. The party accordingly, 
 after destroying it, rejoined the main body at the Pro- 
 phet's town. 
 
 For three days Hopkins' detachment was employed 
 in achieving the complete destruction of the Prophet's 
 town, and the large Kickapoo village adjoining, the 
 former consisting of 40 and the latter of 160 cabins and 
 huts. They likewise destroyed all their cultivated fields, 
 fences, &c, and constructed works for the defence of 
 the boats and of the encampment. 
 
 On the 21st a reconnoitering party were attacked b^ 
 a body of Indians, and one of their number killed. The 
 following day sixty horsemen were despatched to bury 
 their comrade, and gain abetter knowledge of the ground , 
 but they unfortunately fell into an ambuscade, in which 
 
20 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 eighteen of the party were killed, wounded, or missing. 
 This party, on their return, brought information of a 
 large assemblage of the enemy, who, encouraged by the 
 strength of their camp, appeared to be waiting an attack. 
 Every preparation was accordingly made to march early 
 next morning, to engage the enemy. A violent fall of 
 snow, however, prevented the movement on the 23d ; 
 and the camp was found abandoned on the following 
 day. The position which the Indians had thus abandon- 
 ed is spoken of as having been remarkable strong. The 
 Ponce Passu, a deep rapid creek, was in their rear, 
 running in a semicircle ; in front was a bluff, 100 feet 
 high, almost perpendicular, and only to be penetrated by 
 three steep ravines. 
 
 On the return of the troops to camp, the river was 
 found so full of ice, as to alarm them for the return of 
 the boats. Hopkins had intended to have spent one 
 week more in endeavouring to find the Indian camps ; 
 but the shoeless, shirtless state of the troops, now clad 
 in the remnants of their summer dress ; a river full of 
 ice, the hills covered with snow; and, above all, the 
 uncertainty of finding the enemy, all these circumstances 
 determined him to return. They accordingly set out on 
 the 25th, and in a few days arrived at Fort Harrison, 
 having completed a inarch of upwards of 100 miles into 
 the Indian country, which is totally devoid of roads, and 
 destroyed three of their principal towns, in the space of 
 less than twenty days. 
 
 The last Indian expedition of which mention is made, 
 in this quarter, is one which was commanded by Colonel 
 Qampbell, consisting of 600 men, which marched from 
 Greenville, (Ohio) against the towns on the Mississinewn, 
 a branch of the Wabash. 
 
 On the 17th of December, after marching • •! night, 
 
TAYLOK. 21 
 
 Campbell arrived at one of the towns about day-break, 
 which he instantly attacked, and the Indians were driven 
 across the Mississinewa river, with the loss of seven killed 
 and thirty-seven prisoners. Only one American was killed 
 and one w T ounded in this skirmish. After securing the 
 prisoners, a part of the detachment w r as despatched down 
 the river, who returned the same day, having burnt three 
 villages without resistance. They then encamped on 
 the ground where the first village stood. 
 
 The following morning, a little before day-light, the 
 camp was attacked by a body of Indians, supposed to 
 be about 300. They commenced their attack on the 
 right, with a horrid yell. After a desperate conflict of 
 about three-quarters of an hour, a charge was made by 
 the cavalry, which forced the Indians to retreat, leaving 
 forty killed on the field. In this affair the Americans had 
 eight killed, and twenty-five or thirty wounded. 
 
 Another attack was anticipated, as information was 
 received that Tecumseh, with four or five hundred 
 w r arriors, was only fifteen miles from the scene of action ; 
 but reinforcements shortly after arriving from Greenville, 
 they effected their retreat without molestation. 
 
 The gallant defence of Fort Harrison by Captain 
 Taylor was duly appreciated by President Madison, who 
 immediately promoted the intrepid commander to the 
 rank of Major. During the remainder of the war of 
 1812 he was actively employed in the w r estern country, 
 but as he had no opportunity of again distinguishing 
 himself in a separate command, we are not able to trace 
 his movements. 
 
 After the close of the war of 1812, Major Taylor w T as 
 employed in the w r estern country at the various posts 
 wmere the demands of the service required his presence. 
 A time of peace affords few materials for biography in 
 
22 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 the life of a soldier ; but it affords the soldier himself the 
 best opportunity for completing many parts of his mili- 
 tary education. Taylor's great eminence in every branch 
 of the military art affords sufficient proof that this period 
 was employed in the most diligent study, as far as the 
 requisitions of the service would permit. And it is 
 equally certain that his reading could not have been con- 
 fined exclusively to works on the art of war. He read 
 the finest models of English composition ; and we see the 
 result in his published despatches, which are all models 
 of style, attracting the unbounded admiration of the first 
 scholars of tjie age both in Europe and America. 
 
CHAPTER II. 
 
 Promotion to the rank of Colonel — Service in Florida — Battle 
 of Okee Chobee. 
 
 In 1832 Taylor was advanced to the rank of colonel. 
 On the commencement of war in Florida he was ordered 
 on service in that district. This contest was, as every 
 one knows, what General Jackson called his own Semi- 
 nole war, " a war of movements." It consisted almost 
 entirely of pursuits and attempts to surround the Indians* 
 which they were generally successful in eluding. 
 
 Colonel Taylor, however, was more fortunate than his 
 predecessors ; and in December 1837 he was able to bring 
 on a general action at Okee Chobee, which is best described 
 in his own very able despatch, as follows : 
 
 Head-Quarters > First Brigade, ) 
 
 Army South of the Withlacoochee. > 
 
 Fort Gardner, Jan. 4, 1838. ) 
 
 Sir : On the 19th ultimo I received at this place a 
 communication from Major-General Jessup, informing 
 me that all hopes of bringing the war to a close by 
 negotiation, through the interference or mediation of the 
 Cherokee delegation, were at an end, Sam Jones, with 
 the Mickasukies, having determined to fight it out to the 
 last ; and directing me to proceed with the least possible 
 delay against any portion of the enemy I might hear 
 of within striking distance, and to destroy or capture 
 them. 
 
24 TAYLOK AND Hi:, GENERALS. 
 
 After leaving two officers and an adequate force for 
 the protection of my depot, I marched the next morning 
 with twelve days' rations (my means of transportation 
 not enabling me to carry more), with the balance of my 
 command, consisting of Captain Munroe's company of 
 the 4th artillery, total thirty-five men ; the 1st infantry, 
 under the command of Lieutenant-Colonel Davenport, 
 one hundred and ninety-seven strong; the 4th infantry 
 under the command of Lieutenant - Colonel Foster, 
 two hundred and seventy - four ; the 6th infantry, 
 under Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, two hundred and 
 twenty-one ; the Missouri volunteers, one hundred and 
 eighty ; Morgan's spies, forty-seven ; pioneers, thirty ; 
 pontoneers, thirteen ; and seventy Delaware Indians ; 
 making a force, exclusive of officers, of 1032 men ; 
 the greater part of the Shawnees having been detached, 
 and the balance refusing to accompany me, under the 
 pretext that a number of them were sick, and the re- 
 mainder were without moccasins. 
 
 I moved down the west side of the Kissimmee, in a 
 south-easterly course, towards Lake Istopoga, for the 
 following reasons: First, because I knew that a portion 
 of the hostiles were to be found in that direction ; 
 second, if General Jessup should fall in with the Micka- 
 sukies and drive them, they might attempt to elude 
 him by crossing the Kissimmee from the east to the west 
 side of the peninsula, between this and its entrance into 
 Okee Chobee, in which case I might be near at hand to 
 intercept them ; third, to overawe and induce such of 
 the enemy who had been making propositions to give 
 themselves up, and who appeared very slow, if not to 
 hesitate, in complying with their promises on that head, 
 to surrender at once.; and lastly, I deemed it advisable 
 rect block-houses, and a small picket work on the. 
 
TAYLOR. 
 
 25 
 
 Kissimmee, for a third depot, some forty or fifty miles 
 below this, and obtain a knowledge of the intervening 
 country, as I had no guide who could be relied on, and 
 by this means open a communication with Colonel 
 Smith, who was operating up th.e Caloosehatchee, or 
 Sanybel River, under my orders. 
 
 Late in the evening of the first day's march, I met the 
 Indian chief, Jumper, with his family, and a part of 
 his band, consisting of fifteen men, a part of them 
 with families, and a few negroes — in all, sixty-three 
 souls — on his way to give himself up, in conformity 
 to a previous arrangement I had entered into with 
 him. They were conducted by Captain Parks, and a 
 few Shawnees. He (Parks) is an active and intelligent 
 half-breed, who is at the head of the friendly Indians, 
 both Shawnees and Dela wares, and whom I had employed 
 to arrange and bring in Jumper, and as many of his 
 people as he could prevail on to come in. We encamped 
 that night near the same spot ; and the next morning, 
 having ordered Captain Parks to join me, and take com- 
 mand of the Delawares, and having despatched Jumper 
 in charge of some Shawnees to this place, and so on to 
 Fort Frazer, I continued my march, after having sent 
 forward three friendly Seminoles to gain intelligence as 
 to the position of the enemy. 
 
 About noon on the same day, I sent forward one 
 battalion of Gentry's regiment under command of Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel Price, to pick up any stragglers that 
 might fall in his way ; to encamp two or three miles in 
 advance of the main force ; to act with great circum- 
 spection, and to communicate promptly any occurrence 
 that might take place in his vicinity important for me to 
 know. About 10 P. M., I received a note from the 
 colonel, stating that the three Seminoles sent forward in 
 
26 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 the morning had returned ; that they had been at or 
 where Alligator had encamped, twelve or fifteen miles 
 in his advance ; that he (Alligator) had left there with 
 a part of his family four days before, under the pretext 
 of separating his relations, &c, from the Mickasukies, 
 preparatory to his surrendering with them ; that there 
 were several families remaining at the camp referred to, 
 who wished to give themselves up, and would remain 
 there until we took possession of them, unless they were 
 forcibly carried off that night by the Mickasukies, who 
 were encamped at no great distance from them. 
 
 In consequence of this intelligence, after directing 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Davenport to follow me early in the 
 morning with the infantry, a little after midnight I put 
 myself at the head of the residue of the mounted men, 
 joined Lieutenant-Colonel Price, proceeded on, crossing 
 Istopoga outlet, and soon after daylight took possession 
 of the encampment referred to, where I foimd the in- 
 mates, who had not been disturbed. They consisted of 
 an old man and two young ones, and several women and 
 children, amounting in all to twenty-two individuals. The 
 old man informed me that Alligator was very anxious to 
 separate his people from the Mickasukies, who were 
 encamped on the opposite side of the Kissimmee, distant 
 about twenty miles, where they would fight us. I sent 
 him to Alligator, to say to him, if he was sincere in his 
 professions, to meet me the next day at the Kissimmee, 
 where the trail I was marching on crossed, and where I 
 should halt. 
 
 As soon as the infantry came up, I moved on to the 
 place designated, which I reached late that evening, and 
 where I encamped. About 11 P. M. the old Indian 
 returned, bringing a very equivocal message from Alli- 
 gator, whom, he stated, he had met accidentally. Also, 
 
TAYLOR. 27 
 
 that the Mickasukies were still encamped where they 
 had been for some days, and where they were determined 
 to fight us. 
 
 I determined at once on indulging them as soon as prac- 
 ticable. Accordingly, the next morning, after laying 
 out a small stockade work for the protection of a future 
 depot, in order to enable me to move with the greatest 
 celerity, I deposited the whole of my heavy baggage, 
 including artillery, &c, and having provisioned the com- 
 mand, to include the 26th, after leaving Captain Munroe 
 with his company, the pioneer, pontoneers, with eighty- 
 five sick and disabled infantry, and a portion of the 
 friendly Indians, w T ho alleged that they were unable to 
 march further, crossed the Kissimmee, taking the old 
 Indian as a guide who had been captured the day be- 
 fore, and who accompanied us with great apparent 
 reluctance in pursuit of the enemy, and early the next 
 day reached Alligator's encampment, situated on the 
 edge of Cabbage-tree hammock, in the midst of a large 
 prairie; from the appearance of which, and other en- 
 campments in the vicinity, and the many evidences of 
 slaughtered cattle, there must have been several hundred 
 individuals. 
 
 At another small hammock at no great distance from 
 Alligator's encampment and surrounded by a sw T amp, 
 impassable for mounted men, the spies surprised an 
 encampment containing one old man, four young 
 young men, and some women and children. One of the 
 party immediately raised a white flag, when the men 
 were taken possession of and brought across the swamp 
 to the main body. I proceeded with an interpreter to 
 meet them. They proved to be Seminoles, and pro- 
 fessed to be friendly. They stated that they were 
 preparing to come in ; they had just slaughtered a 
 
28 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 number of cattle, and were employed in drying and 
 jerking the same. They also informed me that the 
 Mickasukies, headed by A-vi-a-ka (Sam Jones), was 
 some ten or twelve miles distant, encamped in a swamp, 
 and were prepared to fight. 
 
 Although I placed but little confidence in their pro- 
 fessions of friendship, or their intentions of coming in, yet I 
 had no time to look up their women and children, who 
 had fled and concealed themselves in the swamp, or to 
 have encumbered myself with them in the situation in 
 which I then was. 
 
 Accordingly, I released the old man, who promised 
 that he would collect all the women and children, and 
 take them in to Captain Munroe, at the Kissimmee, the 
 next day. I also dismissed the old man who had acted 
 as guide thus far, supplying his place with the four able 
 warriors who had been captured that morning. 
 
 These arrangements being made, I moved under their 
 guidance for the camp of the Mickasukies. Between 
 two and three P. M., we reached a very dense cypress 
 swamp, through which we were compelled to pass, and 
 in which our guides informed us we might be attacked. 
 After making the necessary dispositions for battle, it 
 was ascertained that there was no enemy to oppose us. 
 The army crossed over and encamped for the night, it 
 being late. During the passage of the rear, Captain 
 Parks, who was in advance with a few friendly Indians, 
 fell in with two of the enemy's spies, between two or 
 three miles of our camp — one on horseback, the other 
 on foot — and succeeded in capturing the latter. He 
 was an active young warrior, armed with an excellent 
 rifle, fifty balls in his pouch, and an adequate proportion 
 of pow T der. This Indian confirmed the information 
 which had previously been received from the other 
 
TAYLOR. 2 ( J 
 
 Indians, and in addition, stated that a large body of the 
 Seminoles, headed by John Cohua, Co-a-coo-chee, and, 
 no doubt, Alligator, with other chiefs, were encamped 
 five or six miles from us, near the Mickasukies, with a 
 cypress swamp and dense hammock between them and 
 the latter. 
 
 The army moved forward at daylight the next morn- 
 ing, and, after marching five or six miles, reached the 
 camp of the Seminoles on the borders of another cypress 
 swamp, which must have contained several hundred, 
 and bore evident traces of having been abandoned in a 
 great hurry, as the fires were still burning, and quan- 
 tities of beef lying on the ground unconsumed. 
 
 Here the troops were again disposed of in order of 
 battle, but we found no enemy to oppose us, and the com- 
 mand was crossed over about 11 A. M., when we entered 
 a large prairie in our front, on which two or three hun- 
 dred head of cattle were grazing, and a number of 
 Indian ponies. Here another young Indian warrior 
 was captured, armed and equipped as the former. He 
 pointed out a dense hammock on our right, about a mile 
 distant, in which he said the hostiles were situated and 
 waiting to give us battle. 
 
 At this place the final disposition was made to attack 
 them, which was in two lines ; the volunteers under 
 Gentry, and Morgan's spies, to form the first line in 
 extended order, who were instructed to enter the ham- 
 mock, and, in the event of being attacked and hard 
 pressed, were to fall back in rear of the regular troops, 
 out of reach of the enemy's fire ; the second line was 
 composed of the 4th and 6th infantry, who were in- 
 structed to sustain the volunteers, the 1st infantry being 
 held in reserve. 
 
 Moving on in the direction of the hammock, after 
 
30 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 proceeding about a quarter of a mile, we reached the 
 swamp which separated us from the enemy, three quar- 
 ters of a mile in breadth, being totally impassable for 
 horse, and nearly so for foot, covered with a thick 
 growth of saw-grass five feet high, about knee deep in 
 mud and water, which extended to the left as far as the 
 eye could reach, and to the right to a part of the swamp 
 and hammock we had just crossed, through which ran 
 a deep creek. At the edge of the swamp all the men 
 were dismounted, and the horses and baggage left under 
 a suitable guard. Captain Allen was detached with the 
 two companies of mounted infantry to examine the 
 swamp and hammock to the right ; and, in case he 
 should not find the enemy in that direction, was to re- 
 turn to the baggage, and, in the event of his hearing a 
 heavy firing, was immediately to join me. 
 
 After making these arrangements, I crossed the swamp 
 in the order stated. On reaching the borders of the 
 hammock, the volunteers and spies received a heavy fire 
 from the enemy, which was returned by them for a short 
 time, when their gallant commander, Colonel Gentry, 
 fell, mortally wounded. They mostly broke, and in- 
 stead of forming in the rear of the regulars, as had 
 been directed, they retired across the swamp to their 
 baggage and horses, nor could they be again brought 
 into action as a body, although elforts were made re- 
 peatedly by my staff to induce them to do so. 
 
 The enemy, however, were promptly checked and 
 driven back by the 4th and 6th infantry, which in truth 
 might be said to be a moving battery. The weight of 
 the enemy's fire was principally concentrated on five 
 companies of the 6th infantry, which not only stood 
 firm, but continued to advance until their gallant com- 
 mander, Lieutenant-Colonel Thompson, and his adjutant, 
 
TAYLOR. 31 
 
 Lieutenant Center, were killed ; and every officer, 
 with one exception, as well as most of the non-com- 
 missioned officers, including the sergeant-major and four 
 of the orderly sergeants, killed and wounded of those 
 companies ; when that portion of the regiment retired 
 to a short distance and were again formed, one of these 
 companies having but four members left untouched. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Foster, with six companies, amount- 
 ing in all to one hundred and sixty men, gained the 
 hammock in good order, where he was joined by Cap- 
 tain Noel, with the two remaining companies of the 6th 
 infantry, and Captain Giliam, of Gentry's volunteers, 
 with a few additional men, and continued to drive the 
 enemy for a considerable time, and by a change of front 
 separated his line, and continued to drive him until he 
 reached the great lake Okee Chobee, which was in the 
 rear of the enemy's position, and on which their en- 
 campment extended for more than a mile. As soon as I 
 was informed that Captain Allen w T as advancing, I 
 ordered the first infantry to move to the left, gain the 
 enemy's right flank and turn it, which order was execu- 
 ted in the promptest manner possible ; and as soon as 
 that regiment got in position, the enemy gave one fire 
 and retreated, being pursued by the 1st, 4th, and 6th, 
 and some of the volunteers who had joined them, until 
 near night, and until these troops were nearly exhausted, 
 and the enemy driven in all directions. 
 
 The action was a severe one, and continued from 
 half past twelve until after three P. M., a part of the 
 time very close and severe. We suffered much, 
 having twenty-six killed and one hundred and twelve 
 wounded, among whom are some of our most valuable 
 officers. The hostiles probably suffered, all things 
 considered, equally with ourselves, they having left ten 
 
32 TAYLOK AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 dead on the ground, besides, doubtless, carrying off 
 many more, as is customary with them when practicable. 
 
 As soon as the enemy were completely broken, I 
 turned my attention to taking care of the wounded, 
 to facilitate their removal to my baggage, where I 
 ordered an encampment to be formed ; I directed Captain 
 Taylor to cross over to the spot, and employ every 
 individual whom he might find there in constructing a 
 small footway across the swamp ; this, with great ex- 
 ertions, was completed in a short time after dark, when 
 all the dead and wounded were carried over in litters 
 made for that purpose, with one exception, a private of 
 he 4th infantry, who was killed and could not be found. 
 
 And here, I trust I may be permitted to say that I 
 experienced one of the most trying scenes of my life, 
 and he who could have looked on it with indifference, 
 his nerves must have been very differently organized 
 from my own ; besides the killed, there lay one hundred 
 'and twelve wounded officers and soldiers, who had 
 accompanied me one hundred and forty-five miles, most 
 of the way through an unexplored wilderness, without 
 guides, who had so gallantly beaten the enemy, under 
 my orders, in his strongest position, and who had to be 
 conveyed back through swamps and hammocks, from 
 whence w r e set out, without any apparent means ot 
 doing so. This service, however, was encountered and 
 overcome, and they have been conveyed thus far, and 
 proceeded on to Tampa Bay, on rude litters, constructed 
 with the axe and knife alone, with poles and dry hides — 
 the latter being found in great abundance at the encamp- 
 ment of the hostiles. The litters were conveyed on the 
 backs of our weak and tottering horses, aided by tne 
 residue of the command, with more ease and comfort to 
 the sufferers than I could have supposed^ and with as 
 
TAYLOR. 33 
 
 much as they could have been in ambulances of the most 
 improved and modern construction. 
 
 The day after the battle we remained at our encamp- 
 ment, occupied in taking care of the wounded, and in 
 the sad office of interring the dead ; also, in preparing 
 litters for the removal of the wounded, and collecting 
 with a portion of the mounted men the horses and cattle 
 in the vicinity belonging to the enemy, of which we 
 found about one hundred of the former, many of them 
 saddled, and nearly three hundred of the latter. 
 
 We left our encampment on the morning of the 27th 
 for the Kissimmee, where I had left my heavy baggage, 
 which place we reached about noon on the 28th, after 
 leaving two companies and a few Indians to garrison the 
 stockade, which I found nearly completed on my return, 
 by that active and vigilant officer, Captain Munroe, 4th 
 artillery. I left there the next morning for this place, 
 where I arrived on the 31st, and sent forward the 
 wounded next day to Tampa Bay, with the 4th and 
 6th infantry, the former to halt at Fort Frazer, remain- 
 ing here myself with the 1st, in order to make prepa- 
 rations to take the field again as soon as my horses can 
 be recruited, most of which have been sent to Tampa 
 and my supplies in a sufficient state of forwardness to 
 justify the measure. 
 
 In speaking of the command, I can only say, that so 
 far as the regular troops are concerned, no one could 
 have been more efficiently sustained than I have been 
 from the commencement of the campaign ; and I am 
 certain that they will always be willing and ready to 
 discharge any duty that may be assigned them. 
 
 To Lieutenant-Colonel Davenport, and the officers and 
 soldiers of the 1st infantry, I feel under many obligations 
 y r the manner in which they have, on all occasions, dis- 
 
34 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 charged their duty ; and although held in reserve and 
 not brought into battle until near its close, it evinced, by 
 its eagerness to engage, and the promptness and good 
 order with which *hey entered the hammock when the 
 order was given for them to do so, is the best evidence 
 that they would have sustained their own characters, 
 as well as that of the regiment, had it been their fortune 
 to have been placed in the hottest of the battle. 
 
 The 4th infantry, under their gallant leader, Lieuten- 
 ant-Colonel Foster, was among the first to gain the ham- 
 mock, and maintained this position, as well as driving a 
 portion of the enemy before him, until he arrived on the 
 borders of Lake Okee Chobee, which was in the rear, 
 and continued the pursuit until near night. Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Foster, who was favourably noticed for his gal- 
 lantry and good conduct in nearly all the engagements 
 on the Niagara frontier during the late war with Great 
 Britain, by his several commanders, as well as in the 
 different engagements with the Indians in this territory, 
 never acted a more conspicuous part than in the action 
 of the 25th ult. ; he speaks in the highest terms of 
 the conduct of Brevet-Major Graham, his second in com- 
 mand, as also the officers and soldiers of the 4th in- 
 fantry, who were engaged in the action. Captain 
 Allen, with his two mounted companies of the 4th in- 
 fantry, sustained his usual character for promptness and 
 efficiency. Lieutenant Hooper, of the 4fh regiment, was 
 wounded through the arm, but continued on the field at 
 the head of his company, until the termination of the 
 battle. 
 
 I am not sufficiently master of words to express my 
 admiration of the gallantry and steadiness of the officers 
 and soldiers of the 6th regiment of infantry. It was 
 their fortune to bear the brunt of the battle. The re- 
 
TAYLOR. OO 
 
 port of the killed and wounded, which accompanies this, 
 is more conclusive evidence of their merits than any- 
 thing I can say. After five companies of this regiment, 
 against which the enemy directed the most deadly fire, 
 was nearly cut up, there being only four men left unin- 
 jured in one of them, and every officer and orderly 
 sergeant of those companies, with one exception, were 
 either killed or wounded, Captain Noel, with the re- 
 maining two companies, his own company, " K," and 
 Crossman's, " B," commanded by Second Lieutenant 
 Woods, which was the left of the regiment, formed on 
 the right of the 4th infantry, entered the hammock with 
 that regiment, and continued the fight and the pursuit 
 until its termination. It is due to Captain Andrews and 
 Lieutenant Walker, to say, they commanded two of 
 the five companies mentioned above, and they continued 
 to direct them until they were both severely wounded 
 and carried from the field ; the latter received three 
 separate balls. 
 
 The Missouri volunteers, under the command of 
 Colonel Gentry, and Morgan's spies, who formed the 
 first line, and, of course, were the first engaged, acted 
 as well, or even better, than troops of that description 
 generally do ; they received and returned the enemy's 
 fire, with spirit, for some time, when they broke and 
 retired, with the exception of Captain Gillam and a few 
 of his company, and Lieutenant Blakey, also with a few 
 men, who joined the regulars, and acted with them, un- 
 til after the close of the battle, but not until they had 
 suffered severely ; the commanding officer of the volun- 
 teers, Colonel Gentry, being mortally wounded while 
 leading on his men, and encouraging them to enter the 
 hammock, and come to close quarters with the enemy ; 
 his son, an interesting youth, eighteen or nineteen years 
 
36 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 of age, sergeant-major of the regiment, was severely 
 wounded at the same moment. 
 
 Captain Childs, Lieutenants Rogers and Flanagan, of 
 Gentry's regiment, Acting Major Sconce,and Lieutenants 
 Hase and Gordon, of the spies, were wounded while en- 
 couraging their men to a discharge of their duty. 
 
 The volunteers and spies having, as before stated, 
 fallen back to the baggage, could not again be formed 
 and brought up to the hammock in anything like order ; 
 but a number of them crossed over individually, and 
 aided in conveying the wounded across the swamp to 
 the hammock, among whom were Captain Curd, and 
 several other officers, whose names I do not now recol- 
 lect. 
 
 To my personal staff, consisting of First Lieutenant 
 J. M. Hill, of the 2d, and First Lieutenant Geo. 
 H. Griffin, of the 6th infantry, the latter aid-de-camp 
 to Major- General Gaines, and a volunteer in Florida 
 from his staff, I feel under the greatest obligations for 
 the promptness and efficiency with which they have sus- 
 tained me throughout the campaign, and more particu- 
 larly for their good conduct, and the alacrity with which 
 they aided me and conveyed my orders during the action 
 of the 25th ult. 
 
 Captain Taylor, commissary of subsistence, who was 
 ordered to join General Jessup at Tampa Bay, as chief of 
 the subsistence department, and who was ordered by him 
 to remain with his column until he, General Jessup, 
 joined it, although no command was assigned Captain 
 Taylor, he greatly exerted himself in trying to rally and 
 bring back the volunteers into action, as well as dis- 
 charging other important duties which were assigned to 
 him during the action. 
 
 Myself, as well as all who witnessed the attention 
 
TAYLOK. 37 
 
 and ability displayed by Surgeon Satterlee, medical 
 director on this side the peninsula, assisted by Assistant 
 Surgeon McLaren and Simpson, of the medical staff of 
 the army, and Drs. Hannah and Cooke, of the Missouri 
 volunteers, in ministering to the wounded, as well as 
 their uniform kindness to them on all occasions, can 
 never cease to be referred to by me but with the most 
 pleasing and grateful recollections. 
 
 The quartermaster's department, under the direction 
 of that efficient officer, Major Brant, and his assistant, 
 Lieutenant Babbitt, have done everything that could be 
 accomplished to throw forward from Tampa Bay, and 
 keep up supplies of provisions, forage, &c, with the 
 limited means at their disposal. Assistant Commissaries 
 Lieutenants Harrison, stationed at Fort Gardner, and 
 McClure, at Fort Fraser, have fully met my expecta- 
 tions in discharge of the various duties connected with 
 their department, as well as those assigned them in the 
 quartermaster's department. 
 
 This column, in six weeks, penetrated one hundred 
 and fifty miles into the enemy's country, opened roads, 
 and constructed bridges and causeways, when necessary, 
 on the greater portion of the route, established two de- 
 pots, and the necessary defences for the same, and finally 
 overtook and beat the enemy in his strongest position. 
 The results of which movement and battle have been 
 the capture of thirty of the hostiles, the coming in, and 
 surrendering of more than one hundred and fifty Indians 
 and negroes, mostly the former, including the chiefs Ou- 
 la-too-chee, Tus-ta-nug-gee, and other principal men, 
 the capturing and driving out of the country six hun- 
 dred head of cattle, upwards of one hundred head of 
 horses, besides obtaining a thorough knowledge of the 
 
IS TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 country through which we operated, a greater portion 
 of which was entirely unknown, except to the enemy. 
 
 Colonel Gentry died in a few hours after the battle, 
 much regretted by the army, and will be, doubtless, by 
 all who knew him, as his state did not contain a braver 
 man or a better citizen. 
 
 It is due to his rank and talents, as well as to his 
 Jong and important services, that I particularly mention 
 Lieutenant-Colonel A. R. Thompson, of the 6th infantry, 
 who fell, in the discharge of his duty, at the head of his 
 regiment. He was in feeble health, brought on by ex- 
 posure to this climate during the past summer, refusing 
 to leave the country while his regiment continued in it. 
 Although he received two balls from the fire of the ene- 
 my, early in the action, which wounded him severely, 
 yet he appeared to disregard them, and continued to give 
 his orders with the same coolness that he would have 
 done had his regiment been under review, or on any 
 parade duty. Advancing, he received a third ball, 
 which at once deprived him of life ; his last words were, 
 " Keep steady, men, charge the hammock — remember 
 the regiment to which you belong." I had known 
 Colonel Thompson personally only for a short time, and 
 the more I knew of him the more I wished to know ; 
 and had his life been spared, our acquaintance, no doubt, 
 would have ripened into the closest friendship. Under 
 such circumstances, there are few, if any, other than Lis 
 bereaved wife, mother, and sisters, who more deeply and 
 sincerely lament his loss, or who will longer cherish his 
 memory, than myself. 
 
 Captain Van Swearingen, Lieutenant Brooke, and 
 Lieutenant and Adjutant Center, of the same regiment, 
 who fell on that day, had no superiors of their years in 
 service, and, in point of chivalry, ranked among the first 
 
TAYLOR. 39 
 
 in the army or nation ; besides their pure and disinte- 
 rested courage, they possessed other qualifications, which 
 qualified them to fill the highest grades of their profes- 
 sion, which, no doubt, they would have attained and 
 adorned had their lives been spared. The two former 
 served with me on another arduous and trying campaign, 
 and on every occasion, whether in the camp, on the 
 march, or on the field of battle, discharged their various 
 duties to my entire satisfaction. 
 With greatest respect, 
 
 I have the honour to be, sir, 
 
 Your most obedient servant, 
 Z. TAYLOR, Col. CWg. 
 To Brig. Gen. R. Jones, Adj. Gen., U. S. A.. 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
CHAPTER III. 
 
 Promotion to the rank of General— Commands the Army of 
 Occupation — Commencement of hostilities. 
 
 Colonel Taylor's conduct in the battle of Okee Cho- 
 bee was duly appreciated by the government. The secre- 
 tary of war, Mr. Poinsett, gave him the warmest com- 
 mendation in his report to Congress ; and he was 
 immediately promoted to the brevet rank of Brigadier- 
 General, with the chief command in Florida. His head- 
 quarters were in the neighbourhood of Tampa Bay. 
 From this point, he directed the " war of movements," 
 so difficult and discouraging to an ardent officer, until 
 1840, when he was relieved by General Armistead, who 
 was now ordered to take the command in Florida. 
 
 General Taylor was now T ordered to the command of 
 the southern department of the army, including the 
 states of Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia, 
 with his head-quarters at Fort Jessup, in Louisiana. 
 His appointment to this command led to his being sub- 
 sequently placed at the head of the " Army of Occupa- 
 tion," which has since covered itself with glory. 
 
 It is foreign from the purpose of this work to discuss 
 the causes of the existing war with Mexico, in which 
 General Taylor has so remarkably distinguished himself. 
 His connexion with it is simply that of a military com- 
 mander acting under authority, which it was his duty to 
 respect. 
 
TAYLOR. 4J 
 
 The army under General Taylor's command occupied 
 a position at Corpus Christi, west of the Nueces, as 
 early as August, 1845, having been ordered to take a 
 position between the rivers Nueces and Rio Grande, and 
 to repel any invasion of the Texan territory, which 
 might be attempted by the Mexican forces. The army 
 occupied this position from August, 1845, until the 11th 
 of March, 1846, when it removed westward, and on the 
 20th of that month reached the Colorado, where some 
 disposition to resist its progress being evinced by a 
 Mexican force, the army was formed into line of battle. 
 A road was then opened down the beach of the river ; 
 and while it was in progress, the enemy was notified by 
 General Taylor, that when it was completed he should 
 cross the river and fire upon any one who appeared in 
 arms to oppose his march. The artillery was placed so 
 as to cover the ford, and the port-fires were lighted. 
 General Mejia, aid to the Mexican commander, now 
 arrived with a letter to General Taylor, apprising him 
 that if the American army should cross the Colorado, it 
 would be considered a declaration of war, and would 
 immediately be followed by actual hostilities. 
 
 The crossing took place nevertheless ; and that too at 
 a point where an excellent opportunity was presented 
 of successfully resisting the advance of the Americans. 
 On the 22d the army advanced across the prairie in the 
 direction of Matamoras; but General Taylor, hearing 
 that the Mexicans held Point Isabel, halted on the 24th, 
 and leaving the army under command of General Worth, 
 advanced to that place with the dragoons, occupied it, 
 and received from steamboats, which arrived oppor- 
 tunely at the same time, a quantity of supplies for the 
 army. 
 
 Passing by the spot where subsequently the battle of 
 
42 TAYLOR AND HIS GENF.RALS. 
 
 Resaca de la Palma was fought, and which General 
 Taylor did not fail to point out as a favourable position 
 for a fight, the army arrived upon the east bank of the 
 Rio Grande, opposite Matamoras, at noon of the 28th 
 of March. General Worth and his staff were now 
 ordered to cross the river to Matamoras, bearing des- 
 patches from General Taylor to the commanding officer 
 of the Mexicans and the civil authorities. They were 
 met by a Mexican party, bearing a white Hag, who 
 landed on the eastern bank ; and an interview with the 
 authorities was requested by General Worth. After 
 some delay he was invited to cross the river. On 
 reaching the right bank, he was met by General Vega 
 and some officers. The reception of the despatches 
 was declined. An interview with the American consul 
 at Matamoras was demanded and refused, and General 
 Worth returned. 
 
 General Taylor now commenced throwing up in- 
 trenchments, while the Mexicans were evincing decisive 
 symptoms of hostility. Several attempts of American 
 soldiers to desert were defeated by shooting the deserters. 
 One was killed by a sentinel at a distance of 200 yards, 
 after swimming the river and commencing his ascent on 
 the opposite bank. Some, however, succeeded, and 
 were very hospitably received in Matamoras. Soon after 
 ihe following proclamation by the Mexican general fell 
 aito the hands of General Taylor. 
 
 The Commander-in-Chief of the Mexican army, to the 
 English and Irish under the orders of the American 
 General Taylor : 
 
 Know Ye : That the government of the United States 
 :j committing repeated acts of barbarous aggression 
 Lgjdnst the magnanimous Mexican nation ; that the 
 
TAYLOR. 42 
 
 government which exists under « the flag of the stars," 
 is unworthy of the designation of Christian. Recollect 
 that you were 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 
 has already done of Texas. Now, then, come with all 
 confidence to the Mexican ranks; and I guaranty 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 othei 
 nations ! Separate yourselves from the Yankees, and do 
 not contribute to defend a robbery and usurpation which, 
 be assured, the civilized nation of Europe look upon 
 with the utmost indignation. Come, therefore, and 
 array yourselves under the tri-coloured flag, in the con- 
 fidence that the God of armies protects it, and that it 
 will protect you equally with the English. 
 
 PEDRO DE AMPUDIA 
 
 Francisco R. Moreno, 
 
 Adjt. of the Commander-in-Chief. 
 
 Head Quarters, upon the road to Matamoras, 
 April 2, 1846. 
 
 This ingenious attempt to seduce that part of the 
 Vrmy of Occupation which was composed of naturali- 
 sed citizens was, of course, treated with the contempt 
 it deserved. We hear of no more desertions after this. 
 
 On the 5th of April a small intrenchment was raised 
 for the reception of cannon expected from Point Isabel. 
 The main intrenchment, Fort Brown, meantime, was in 
 progress, under the direction of Captain Mansfield of tV 
 
44 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 Engineers. It had six bastion fronts, and was capable 
 of accommodating five regiments of infantry. 
 
 On the 10th of April Colonel Cross, the deputy quarter- 
 master-general, was murdered by the Mexicans while 
 taking a ride near the American camp. His body was 
 not discovered till the 21st, and it is still somewhat 
 doubtful by what particular party of the enemy he met 
 his fate. 
 
 On the 11th of April General Ampudia arrived at 
 Matamoras ; and on the 12th he sent a flag with the 
 following communication to General Taylor : 
 
 Fourth Military Division. ) 
 General-in-Chief. ) 
 
 To explain to you the many grounds for the just 
 grievances felt by the Mexican nation, caused by the 
 United States government, would be a loss of time and 
 an insult to your good sense ; I therefore pass at once to 
 such explanations as I consider of absolute necessity. 
 
 Your government, in an incredible manner — you will 
 even permit me to say an extravagant one, if the usage 
 or general rules established and received among all civil- 
 ized nations are regarded — has not only insulted, but has 
 exasperated the Mexican nation, bearing its conquering 
 banner to the left bank of the Rio Bravo del Norte ; and 
 in this case, by explicit and definite orders of my govern- 
 ment, which neither can, will, nor should receive new 
 outrages, I require you in all form, and at latest in the 
 peremptory term of twenty-four hours, to break up your 
 camp and retire to the other bank of the Nueces river, 
 while our governments are regulating the pending ques- 
 tion in relation to Texas. If you insist in remaining 
 upon the soil of the department of Tamaulipas, it will 
 clearly result that arms, and arms alone, must decide the 
 
TAYLOR. 45 
 
 question ; and in that case I advise you that we accept 
 the war to which, with so much injustice on your part, 
 you provoke us, and that, on our part, this war shall be 
 conducted conformably to the principles established by 
 the most civilized nations ; that is to say, that the law 
 of nations and of war shall be the guide of my operations ; 
 trusting that on your part the same will be observed. 
 
 With this view, I tender you the considerations due to 
 your person and respectable office. 
 
 God and Liberty ! 
 
 Head-Quarters at Matamoras, 2 o'clock, P. M., 
 April 12, 1846. 
 
 PEDRO DE AMPUDIA. 
 
 Sr. General-in-Chief of the U. S. Army, ) 
 Don. Z. Taylor. j 
 
 General Taylor immediately replied to this commu 
 nication as follows : 
 
 Head-Quarters Army of Occupation, j 
 Camp near Matamoras, Texas, April 12, 1846. j 
 
 Senor : I have had the honour to receive your note 
 of this date, in which you summon me to withdraw the 
 forces under my command from their present position, 
 and beyond the river Nueces, until the pending question 
 between our governments, relative to the limits of Texas . 
 shall be settled. 
 
 I need hardly advise you that, charged as I am, in 
 only a military capacity, with the performance of spe- 
 cific duties, I cannot enter into a discussion of the in- 
 ternational question involved in the advance of the 
 American army. You will, however, permit me to say 
 that the government of the United States has constantly 
 sought a settlement, by negotiation, of the question of 
 boundary ; that an envoy was despatched to Mexico for 
 
46 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 that purpose, and that up to the most recent dates said 
 envoy had not been received by the actual Mexican 
 government, if indeed he has not received his passports 
 and left the republic. In the mean time, I have been 
 ordered to occupy the country up to the left bank of the 
 Rio Grande, until the boundary shall be definitively 
 settled. In carrying out these instructions, I have care- 
 fully abstained from all acts of hostility, obeying, in this 
 regard, not only the letter of my instructions, but the 
 plain dictates of justice and humanity. 
 
 The instructions under which I am acting will not 
 permit me to retrograde from the position I now occupy. 
 In view of the relations between our respective govern- 
 ments, and the individual suffering which may result, I 
 regret the alternative which you offer ; but, at the same 
 time, wish it understood that I shall by no means avoid 
 such alternative, leaving the responsibility with those 
 who rashly commence hostilities. In conclusion, you 
 will permit me to give you the assurance that on my 
 part the laws and customs of war among civilized 
 nations shall be carefully observed. 
 
 I have the honour to be, very respectfully, your 
 obedient servant. 
 Sr. Gen. D. Pedro de Ampudia. 
 
 Lieutenants Porter and Dobbins, with a party of ten 
 men, were despatched on the 17th, in pursuit of the 
 murderers of Colonel Cross. On the afternoon of the 
 18th, they fell in with a party of 150 Mexicans, fired 
 upon them, put them to flight, and took possession of 
 their camp and horses. On their return to camp they 
 were attacked by a party of Mexicans in the night, and 
 Lieutenant Porter was killed. 
 
 On the 19th of April, General Taylor intercepted two 
 
TAYLOR. 47 
 
 vessels bound into Matamoras with supplies for the 
 Mexican army, by sending the U. S. brig Lawrence and 
 the revenue cutter Santa Anna in pursuit of them. In 
 consequence of this proceeding, the following communi 
 cation was addressed to General Taylor by General Am. 
 pudia. 
 
 Division of the North, 
 
 Second General-in-Chief. 
 
 From various sources worthy of confidence, 1 have 
 learned that some vessels bound for the mouth of the 
 river, have not been able to effect an entrance into that 
 port in consequence of your orders that they should be 
 conducted to Brazos Santiago. The cargo of one of 
 them is composed in great part, and of the other entirely, 
 of provisions, which the contractors charged with pro- 
 viding for the army under my orders had procured to 
 fulfil the obligations of their contracts. You have taken 
 possession of these provisions by force, and against the 
 will of the proprietors, one of whom is vice cousul of 
 her Catholic Majesty, and the other of her Britannic 
 Majesty ; and whose rights, in place of being religiously 
 respected, as was proffered, and as was to be hoped from 
 the observance of the principles which govern among 
 civilized nations, have, on the contrary, been violated in 
 the most extraordinary manner, opposed to the guarantee 
 and respect due to private property. 
 
 Nothing can have authorized you in such a course. 
 The commerce of nations is not suspended or interrupted 
 except in consequence of a solemn declaration of block 
 ade, communicated and established in the form prescribed 
 by international law. Nevertheless, you have infringed 
 these rules ; and, by an act which can never be viewed 
 favourably to the United States government, have hin 
 
48 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 dered the entrance to a Mexican port, of vessels bound 
 to it, under the confidence that commerce would not be 
 interrupted. My duties do not allow me to consent to 
 this new species of hostility, and they constrain me to 
 require of you, not only that the vessels taken by force- 
 to Brazos Santiago shall be at liberty to return to the 
 mouth of the river, but the restoration of all the pro- 
 visions which, besides belonging to private contractors, 
 were destined for the troops on this frontier. I consider 
 it useless to inculcate the justice of this demand, and 
 the results which may follow an unlooked-for refusal. 
 
 I have also understood that two Mexicans, carried 
 down in a boat by the current of the river near one of 
 the advanced posts of your camp, were detained, after 
 being fired upon, and that they are still kept and treated 
 as prisoners. The individuals in question do not belong 
 to the army, and this circumstance exempts them from 
 the laws of war. I therefore hope that you will place 
 them absolutely at liberty, as I cannot be persuaded that 
 you pretend to extend to persons not military the con- 
 sequences of an invasion, which, without employing this 
 means of rigour against unarmed citizens, is marked in 
 itself with the seal of universal reprobation. 
 
 I avail myself of this opportunity to assure you of my 
 distinguished consideration. 
 
 God and liberty ! — Matamoras, April 22, 1846. 
 
 PEDRO DE AMPUDIA. 
 
 Sr. Gen. Don Z. Taylor. 
 
 General Taylor's answer to this letter is worthy of 
 attention. It is not only a masterly piece of composi- 
 tion, but a very admirable and clear view of the relative 
 positions of the parties up to the moment of writing. 
 
TAYLOR. 49 
 
 Head-Quarters Army of Occupation, ) 
 Camp near Matamoras, Texas, April 22 ; 1846. j 
 
 Sir : I have had the honour to receive your communi- 
 cation 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 also advert to the case of two Mexicans 
 supposed to be detained as prisoners in this camp. 
 
 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 for recalling a few cir- 
 cumstances to show that this state of war has not been 
 sought by the American army, but has been forced upon 
 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 
 occupy 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 
 
50 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 this moment the same spirit has controlled the operations 
 of the army. On reaching the Arroyo Colorado I \va» 
 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 hands, it was discovered that the village 
 of Frontone had been set on fire and abandoned. I 
 viewed this as a direct act of war, and informed the depu- 
 tation that their communication would be answered by me 
 when 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 the use 
 of the citizens of Matamoras the port of Brazos Santiago 
 until the question of boundary should be definitively 
 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 war, and he 
 was absolutely refused an interview with the American 
 consul, in itself an act incompatible with a state of 
 peace. 
 
 Notwithstanding these repeated assurances on the part 
 of the Mexican authorities, and notwithstanding 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 
 
TAYLOR. 51 
 
 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 alternative ot 
 my remaining in this position. As I could not, under 
 my instructions, recede from my position, I accepted 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 consonant with the state 
 of war so often declared to exist, and which you ac- 
 knowledge in your note of the 16th instant, relative to 
 the late Col. Cross. If this measure seem 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 report- 
 ed this blockade to my government, and shall not re 
 move it until I receive instructions to that effect, unless 
 indeed you desire an armistice pending the final settle- 
 ment 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 con- 
 sequences you mention as resulting from a refusal to re- 
 move the blockade, I beg you to understand that I am 
 prepared for them, be they what they may. 
 
 In regard to the particular vessels 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 instant, 
 when near the mouth of the river, and put to sea, return- 
 ing 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 to my knowledge. 
 A Mexican schooner, understood to be the " Juniata," 
 
52 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 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 concerning 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, proceeded 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 immediate release. A letter 
 from one of them to the Spanish vice-consul is respect- 
 fully transmitted herewith. 
 
 In relation to the Mexicans said to have drifted down 
 the river in a boat, and to be prisoners at this time in my 
 camp, I have the pleasure to inform you that no such 
 persons have been taken prisoners or are now detained 
 by my authority. The boat in question was carried 
 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 the darkness ; the 
 individuals concerned were hailed by the guard, and, 
 failing to answer, were fired upon as a matter of course. 
 What 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 application to me, and I have now only to repeat 
 that assurance. 
 
 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 h Hself, either to me or my government ; and 
 
TAYLOR. 53 
 
 while I observe in my own correspondence the courtesy 
 due to your high position, and to the magnitude of the 
 interests with which we are respectively charged, I shall 
 expect the same in return. 
 
 I have the honour to be, very respectfully, your obedient 
 servant, 
 
 Z. TAYLOR, 
 Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. A., Commanding, 
 Sr. Gen. D. Pedro de Ampudia, Commanding in Matamoras. 
 
 The system of seducing American soldiers from their 
 allegiance was again resorted to by General Arista, who 
 sent forth the following paper on the 20th of April : 
 
 Head-Quarters at Matamoras, April 20, 1846. 
 Soldiers! — You have enlisted in time of peace to 
 serve in that army for a specific term ; but your obliga- 
 tion never implied that you were bound to violate the 
 laws of God, and the most sacred rights of friends! 
 The United States government, contrary to the wishes 
 of a majority of all honest and honourable Americans, 
 has ordered you to take forcible possession of the terri- 
 tory of a friendly neighbour, who has never given her 
 consent to such occupation. In other words, while the 
 treaty of peace and commerce between Mexico and the 
 United States is in full force, the United States, pre- 
 suming on her strength and prosperity, and on our sup- 
 posed imbecility and cowardice, attempts to make you 
 the blind instruments of her unholy and mad ambition, 
 and force you to appear as the hateful robbers of our 
 dear homes, and the unprovoked violators of our dearest 
 feelings as men and patriots. Such villany and outrage, 
 I know, is perfectly repugnant to the noble sentiments 
 of any gentleman, and it is base and foul to rush you 
 
54 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 on to certain death, in order to aggrandize a few lawless 
 individuals, in defiance of the laws of God and man! 
 
 It is to no purpose if they tell you, that the law for the 
 annexation of Texas justifies your occupation of the Rio 
 Bravo del Norte ; for by this act they rob us of a gieat 
 part of Tamaulipas, Coaliuila, Chihuahua, and New 
 Mexico ; and it is barbarous to send a handful of men 
 on such an errand against a powerful and warlike nation. 
 Besides, the most of you are Europeans, and we are the 
 declared friends of a majority of the nations of Europe 
 The North Americans are ambitious, overbearing, and 
 insolent as a nation, and they will only make use of you 
 as vile tools to carry out their abominable plans of pil 
 lage and rapine. 
 
 I warn you in the name of justice, honour, and you: 
 own interests and self-respect, to abandon their despe- 
 rate and unholy cause, and become peaceful Mexican 
 citizens. I guaranty you, in such case, a half section 
 of land, or three hundred and twenty acres, to settle 
 upon, gratis. Be wise, then, and just, and honourable, 
 and take no part in murdering us who have no unkind 
 feelings for you. Lands shall be given to officers, 
 sergeants, and corporals, according to rank, privates 
 receiving three hundred and twenty acres, as stated. 
 
 If in time of action you wish to espouse our cause, 
 throw away your arms and run to us, and we will em- 
 brace you as true friends and Christians. It is not 
 decent nor prudent to say more. But should any of 
 you render important service to Mexico, you shall be 
 accordingly considered and preferred. 
 
 M. ARISTA, 
 Commander-in-Chwf of the Mexican Army. 
 
TAYLOR. 55 
 
 Point Isabel had been made the depot of military stores 
 for the Army of Occupation. The Mexicans had already 
 crossed the Rio Grande, and intercepted the communi- 
 cation between this post and Fort Brown, and General 
 Taylor was engaged in making preparations for re-open- 
 ing the communication between the two posts. Teams 
 despatched from Fort Isabel to Fort Brown had been 
 compelled to return, and Captain Walker, of the Texan 
 Rangers, who went out on the 28th to reconnoitre, was 
 driven back to Point Isabel, with the loss of some men 
 of his party. He reported having encountered a force 
 of the enemy, which he estimated at 1500. Notwith- 
 standing this, he started on the 29th with a message from 
 Major Munroe to General Taylor, and after a series of 
 "hair-breadth 'scapes" succeeded in delivering it. 
 
 After receiving this message, General Taylor (May 
 1st, 1846) took up his line of march for Point Isabel, 
 with the main body of the army, leaving a regiment of 
 infantry and two companies of artillery at Fort Brown, 
 under the command of Major Brown. The Mexicans, 
 who had very prudently refrained from attacking the 
 army while General Taylor was present, commenced, on 
 the 3d of May, a furious fire on the small force left in 
 Fort Brown, from a battery of seven guns. The fire was 
 instantly returned with spirit, and the battery was silenced 
 in twenty minutes after the Americans commenced firing. 
 Another attack was commenced with shot .and shells 
 from another battery, killing a sergeant, but effecting no 
 other damasre. 
 
 The firing at Fort Brown being heard by General 
 Taylor, he despatched Captains May and Walker to ob- 
 tain intelligence from the fort ; and by this means re- 
 ceived intelligence that Major Brown was in a condition 
 to maintain his post. 
 4 
 
56 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 On the morning of the 5th of May, Fort Brown was 
 assailed by a heavy force of the enemy on the rear, 
 where the Mexicans had placed a strong battery during 
 the preceding night. At the same time the fire was re- 
 newed from Matamoras, and the gallant fellows in the 
 intrenchment were thus exposed to a galling cross fire, 
 with the prospect of a speedy assault. Nothing daunt- 
 ed, however, they returned the fire on both sides, main 
 taining the unequal contest with perfect coolness, until 
 the firing of the enemy ceased. On the evening of this 
 day Major Brown, in obedience to orders which he had 
 received from General Taylor, fired his eighteen-pounders 
 at stated intervals, as a signal that he was surrounded. 
 On the forenoon of the 6th, Major Brown, the gallant 
 commander of the fort, was mortally wounded by a 
 shell from one of the Mexican batteries. He was suc- 
 ceeded in the command by Captain Hawkins, who, at 
 half past four o'clock, was summoned to surrender the 
 fort, and, of course, refused. The firing was then re- 
 newed and continued for the rest of the day. At day- 
 light of the 7th the firing was renewed ; but soon after 
 suddenly ceased. It was again renewed and continued 
 for six hours. The firing at Palo Alto, where General 
 Taylor was engaged with the Mexicans, was then heard 
 at Fort Brown, with what mixed emotions the reader 
 may conceive. The Americans welcomed the sound 
 with a tremendous shout. They knew that for Taylor 
 to fight was to conquer. The enemy recommenced 
 their bombardment with redoubled energy; but the con- 
 tinuous and exulting shouts of the Americans finally 
 silenced the bombardment. At sunset a Mexican de- 
 serter brought the news of the victory of Palo Alto ; 
 and the wearied garrison felt that their labours and 
 dangers were nearly closed. 
 
CHAPTER IV. 
 
 .Battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma — Captain May's 
 brilliant charge — Retreat of the Mexicans. 
 
 While the events we have just related were trans- 
 piring, the situation of the "Army of Occupation" was 
 now one of extreme difficulty and danger. Separated 
 into two portions, one at Fort Brown and the other at 
 Point Isabel, with an immensely superior force interposed 
 between them, there was every human probability that 
 one or both portions of the army would be entirely cut 
 off. Such w r as the apprehension justly entertained 
 throughout the United States when their situation became 
 known. But their leader was General Taylor. 
 
 He had determined to march from Point Isabel to 
 Fort Brown, and expressed his determination to fight 
 any force of the enemy that might oppose his progress, 
 whatever the magnitude of that force might be. The 
 following letter from an eye-witness of his next opera- 
 tions gives a clear view of the battles of the 8th and 9th 
 of May, and the succeeding events. 
 
 "Point Isabel, May 12th, 1846. 
 « By the last departure I wrote to you briefly of the 
 operations of the army up to that time, of the bombard- 
 ment of the fort opposite Matamoras, and the movement 
 of General Taylor with the main body to this place, for 
 the purpose of strengthening its defences. Having 
 
58 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 effected this, he marched, without waiting for reinforce- 
 ments, on the evening of the 7th ; and on the 8th, at two 
 o'clock, found the enemy in position, in front of a 
 chapparal, which lies opposite to the timber of a stream 
 called Palo Alto. 
 
 The train was closed up, the troops filled their can- 
 teens, and General Taylor promptly formed his line of 
 battery as follows : — On the right was Ringgold's bat- 
 tery, 5th and 3d infantry ; then two eighteen-pounders ; 
 then the artillery battalion. The left was composed of 
 the 4th and 8th infantry, and Duncan's battery. A 
 daring reconnoissance by Lieut. J. E.Blake, showed the 
 enemy's line to be of nearly twice the strength of ours, 
 with heavy reserves in the chapparal. The Mexicans 
 opened the action with their artillery, the range of which 
 was hardly great enough to reach our line, which was 
 moving slowly forward, and some got into the thickest 
 of their shot and halted. The fire was returned from all 
 our batteries, and I venture to say that no field ever dis- 
 played such skill, or rapidity of fire and evolution. 
 
 The first and only important movement attempted by 
 the enemy, was a detachment of their cavalry to make a 
 detour around a clump of chapparal on our right, and 
 attack the train. Captain Walker, of the Texas Rangers, 
 promptly reported this, and the 5th infantry was detached 
 to meet it, which it did handsomely, receiving the lancers 
 in square, and driving them by a well delivered volley. 
 The cavalry then pushed on again for the train, and 
 found the 3d infantry advancing in column of divisions 
 upon them. They then retired, and as they repassed the 
 5th, they received a fire from Lieutenant Ridgely's two 
 pieces, which had arrived at the nick of time. Two 
 field-pieces, which were following the enemy's cavalry, 
 were also driven back with them. 
 
TAYLOR. 59 
 
 Meanwhile the enemy's left was riddled by the 
 eighteen-pounders, which slowly advanced up the road 
 — Duncan's battery on the left, neglecting the enemy's 
 guns, threw their fire into the Mexican infantry, "and 
 swept whole ranks. The 8th infantry on the left suffered 
 severely from the enemy's fire. The grass was set on 
 fire at the end of an hour's cannonading, and obscured 
 the enemy's position completely, and an interval of three- 
 quarters of an hour occurred. During this period our 
 right, now resting on the eighteen-pounders, advanced 
 along the wood, to the point originally occupied by the 
 Mexican left, and when the smoke had cleared away 
 sufficiently to show the enemy, the fire was resumed with 
 increased rapidity and execution. Duncan divided his 
 battery on the left, giving a section to Lieutenant Roland, 
 to operate in front, and with the other he advanced beyond 
 the burning grass, (which was three feet high, and the 
 flames rolled ten feet in the strong breeze,) and seized 
 the prolongation of the enemy's right, enfilading that flank 
 completely. Night found the two armies in this position. 
 On the 9th, the general packed the heavy train, col- 
 lected the enemy's wounded in hospital, buried their 
 dead, arranged our own wounded (among whom we 
 have to regret the sudden death of Major Ringgold, and 
 probably Captain Page), and moved on in pursuit of the 
 enemy on the Matamoras road. They had taken post 
 in the chapparal the second time, occupying the bed of a 
 stream called Resaca de la Palma, with their artillery on 
 the road at the crossing. I have no time for details of 
 this affair. The general brought up his troops by bat- 
 talions, and posted them, with brief orders to find the 
 enemy with the bayonet, and placed the artillery where 
 they could act in the road. 
 
 The dragoons were held in reserve, and as soon as 
 
60 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 the advance of our line had uncovered the Mexican bat- 
 teries. General Taylor told Captain May that his time 
 had come : " Here's the enemy's battery, sir, take it 
 nolens volens." May dashed upon it with his squadron, 
 and lost one-third of it ; but he cleared the battery and 
 captured its commander, General Vega, in the act of 
 raising a port-fire, to fire a piece himself. May took his 
 sword, and brought the general off. The enemy re- 
 manned the guns, and lost them a second time to the 
 5th infantry. 
 
 Captain Barbour, of the 2d infantry, with his single 
 company, and a few men from the 5th, who joined him 
 in the chapparal, threw his back against a clump of 
 bushes, and received and gallantly repelled a charge of 
 cavalry. Captain Duncan, with his battery, did terrible 
 execution. He is a most promising officer. Lieutenant 
 Ridgely was also among the foremost. In truth, it was 
 a series of brilliant skirmishes and heavy shocks, in 
 which fifteen hundred fighting men met six thousand 
 hand to hand — overwhelmed them with the precision of 
 their volleys, and the steady coolness of the bayonet, and 
 drove them from the field with the loss of their artillery, 
 baggage, pack-mules, fixed ammunition, and near 2000 
 stand of muskets. 
 
 Fort Brown, meantime, had been summoned, with true 
 Mexican duplicity, and told that Taylor was flying. 
 The Matamoras newspapers and official bulletins called 
 him a cowardly tailor. In answer to the summons, the 
 officers plunged their swords into the parapet, and re- 
 plied " to the hilt." Up to the evening of the 9th, 1500 
 shells and 3000 shot had been thrown, and the only 
 loss was that of the brave commander, Major Brown, 
 and one sergeant and one private killed, and eleven 
 wounded. 
 
TAYLOR. 6i 
 
 The general returns to the army to-night, and will 
 tvoss the river to-morrow or next day. The fort will be 
 increased in guns, and especially provided with mortars, 
 which will bring the town to terms at once. The navy 
 will co-operate at the mouth of the river, and steamboats 
 f begin to carry supplies by that route. 
 
 General Taylor has just given General Vega a letter 
 to General Gaines, and a letter of credit on his factor. 
 The officers here and in the main body vied with their 
 commander in delicate attentions to a brave and accom- 
 plished enemy, who won their admiration on the field, 
 and was taken like a soldier, in full harness, and fighting 
 gallantly to the last. Our loss about thirty killed, and 
 one hundred and forty wounded. 
 
 Mexican loss at Palo Alto, set down by themselves at 
 450 ; at Resaca de la Palma, 2000 missing. Since the 
 battle, our dragoons have been exchanged grade for 
 grade ; and the Mexican wounded sent over to Mata- 
 moras. By the next arrival you will hear of the fall of 
 the town, and probably an offer from them to receive 
 Mr. Slidell in any capacity. 
 
 It ought to be mentioned that some of our regiments 
 are not full, and two of them only have about 300. 
 Many instances have occurred, of men handing their 
 canteens to the wounded Mexicans, and turning from 
 them to fire upon others. There was not a single 
 occurrence of cruelty towards the enemy. The morale 
 of the army is at its highest — it can now accomplish 
 anything, and they would die for a commander who does 
 not ask them to go where he is not willing to lead, and 
 in whose judgment they fully confide." 
 
 The following are General Taylor's concise official 
 despatches, announcing these two battles. 
 
62 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 Head-Quarters Army of Occupation, ) 
 Camp at Palo Alto, Texas, May 9, 1846. j 
 
 Sir : I have the honour to report that I -was met near 
 this place yesterday, on my march from Point Isabel, by 
 the Mexican forces, and after an action of about five hours, 
 dislodged them from their position and encamped upon 
 the field. Our artillery, consisting of two eighteen- 
 pounders and two light batteries, was the arm chiefly 
 engaged, and to the excellent manner in which it was 
 manoeuvred and served, is our success mainly due. 
 
 The strength of the enemy is believed to have been 
 about 6000 men, with seven pieces of artillery, 
 and 800 cavalry. His loss is probably at least 
 one hundred killed. Our strength did not exceed, all 
 told, twenty-three hundred, while our loss was compara- 
 tively trifling — four men killed, three officers and thirty- 
 seven men wounded, several of the latter mortally. I 
 regret to say that Major Ringgold, 2d artillery, and 
 Captain Page, 4th infantry, are severely wounded. Lieu- 
 tenant Luther, 2d artillery, slightly so. 
 
 The enemy has fallen back, and it is believed has re- 
 passed the river. I have advanced parties now thrown 
 forward in his direction, and shall move the main body 
 immediately. 
 
 In the haste of this report, I can only say that the 
 officers and men behaved in the most admirable manner 
 throughout the action. I shall have the pleasure of 
 making a more detailed report when those of the ditferen. 
 commanders shall be received. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 Z. TAYLOR, 
 Brevet Brigadier-General U. S. Jh, Commanding 
 The Adjut^vt-GeneraLj U. S. Army, ) 
 Washington, D. C. j 
 
TAYLOR. 63 
 
 Mead-Quarters Army of Occupation. ) 
 Camp at Resaca de la Palma, 3 miles from > 
 Matamoras, 10 o'clock, P. M.. May 9, 1846. ) 
 
 Sir : I have the honour to report that I marched with 
 the main body of the army at two o'clock to-day, having 
 previously thrown forward a body of light infantry into 
 the forest which covers the Matamoras road. When* 
 near the spot where I am now encamped, my advance 
 discovered that a ravine crossing the road had been 
 occupied by the enemy with artillery. I immediately 
 ordered a battery of field artillery to sweep the position, 
 flanking and sustaining it by the 3d, 4th, and 5th regi- 
 ments, deployed as skirmishes to the right and left. A 
 heavy fire of artillery and of musketry was kept up for 
 some time, until finally the enemy's batteries were carried 
 in succession by a squadron of dragoons and the regi- 
 ments of infantry that were on the ground. He was 
 soon driven from his position, and pursued by a squadron 
 of dragoons, battalion of artillery, 3d infantry, and a 
 light battery, to the river. Our victory has been com 
 plete. Eight pieces of artillery, with a great quantity 
 of ammunition, three standards, and some one hundred 
 prisoners have been taken ; among the latter, General 
 La Vega, and several other officers. One general is 
 understood to have been killed. The enemy has re- 
 crossed the river, and I am sure will not agam molest us 
 on this bank. 
 
 The loss of the enemy in killed has been most severe. 
 Our own has been very heavy, and I deeply regret to 
 report that Lieutenant Inge, 2d dragoons, Lieutenant 
 Cochrane, 4th infantry, and Lieutenant Chadbourne, 8th 
 infantry, were killed on the field. Lieutenant-C Lionel 
 Payne, 4th artillery, Lieutenant- Colonel Mcintosh, Lieu- 
 <*»rant Dobbins, 3d infantry ; Captain Hooe and Lieu 
 
64 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 tenant Fowler, 5th infantry ; and Captain Montgomery, 
 Lieutenants Gates, Selden, McClay, Burbank, and 
 Jordan, 8th infantry, were wounded. The extent of 
 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 
 supplement to the cannonade of yesterday ; and the two 
 taken together, exhibit 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 a more 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 Matamoras has sustained itself handsomely 
 during a cannonade and bombardment of 160 hours. 
 But the pleasure is alloyed with profound regret at the 
 loss of its heroic and indomitable 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 officer and one non-commissioned officer killed, and 
 ten men wounded, comprise all the casualties incident 
 to this severe boii.bardment. 
 
 I inadverte.it y omitted to mention the capture 
 af a large n.imber of pack-mules left in the Mexican 
 oamp. I am, sir, very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient sen-ant, 
 
 Z. TAYLOR, 
 Brevet Brigadier-General U. S. A. Commanding 
 The Adjutant-General of the Army, j 
 Washington, D. C. j 
 
 The brilliant charge of Captain May at Resaca de la 
 Palma, is thus described by Sergeant Milton, of hit 
 corps : 
 
TAYLOR. 67 
 
 ** At Palo Alto," says he, « I took my rank in the 
 troop as second sergeant, and while upon the field ray 
 horse was wounded in the jaw by a grape-shot, which 
 disabled him for service. While he was plunging in 
 agony I dismounted, and the quick eye of Captain May 
 observed me as I alighted from my horse. He inquired 
 if I w r as hurt. I answered no — that my horse was the 
 sufferer. < I am glad it is not yourself,' replied he ; 
 < there is another,' (pointing at the same time to a steed 
 without a rider, which was standing with dilated eye 
 gazing at the strife,) <■ mount him.' I approached the 
 horse, and he stood still until I put my hand upon the 
 rein and patted his neck, when, he rubbed his head 
 alongside of me as if pleased that some human being 
 was about to become his companion in the affray. He 
 was a noble bay, which had, with a number of others, 
 been purchased for the troop in St. Louis. I bestrode 
 him, and we passed through the first day unharmed. 
 U " On the second day, at Resaca de la Palma, our 
 troop stood anxiously waiting for the signal to be given, 
 and never had I looked upon men upon whose counte- 
 nances were more clearly expressed a fixed determina- 
 tion to win. The lips of some were pale with excite- 
 ment, and their eyes wore that fixed expression which 
 betokens mischief; others with shut teeth would quietly 
 laugh and catch a tighter grip of the rein, or seat them- 
 selves with care and firmness in the saddle, while quiet 
 words of confidence and encouragement were passed 
 from each to his neighbour. All at once Captain May 
 rode to the front of his troop — every rein and sabre was 
 tightly grasped. Raising himself and pointing at the 
 battery, he shouted, « Men, follow P There was now a 
 clattering of hoofs and a rattling of sabre sheaths — the 
 fire of the enemy's guns was partly drawn by Lieu- 
 
68 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 tenant Ridgely, and the next moment we were sweeping 
 like the wind up the ravine. I was in a squad of about 
 nine men, who were separated by a shower of grape 
 from the battery, and we were in advance, May leading. 
 He turned his horse opposite the breast-work, in front 
 of the guns, and with another shout < to follow,' leaped 
 over them. Several of the horses did follow, but mine, 
 being new and not well trained, refused ; two others 
 balked, and their riders started down the ravine to turn 
 the breast-work where the rest of the troop had entered. 
 I made another attempt to clear the guns with my horse, 
 turning him around — feeling all the time secure at 
 thinking the guns discharged — I put his head towards 
 them and gave him spur, but he again balked ; so, 
 turning his head down the ravine, I too started to ride 
 round the breast-work. 
 
 « As I came down a lancer dashed at me with lance 
 in rest. With my sabre I parried his thrust, only receiv- 
 ing a slight flesh wound from its point in the arm, which 
 felt at the time like the prick of a pin. The lancer 
 turned and fled ; at that moment a ball passed through 
 my horse on the left side and shattered my right side. 
 The shot killed the horse instantly, and he fell upon my 
 left leg, fastening me by his weight to the earth. There 
 I lay, right in the midst of the action, where carnage 
 was riding riot, and every moment the shot, from our 
 own and the Mexican guns, tearing up the earth around 
 me. I tried to raise my horse so as to extricate my leg, 
 but I had already grown so weak with my wound that I 
 was unable, and, from the mere attempt, I fell back 
 exhausted. To add to my horror a horse, who was 
 careering about, riderless, within a few yards of me, 
 received a wound, and he commenced struggling and 
 rearing with pain. Two or three times he came near 
 
TAYLOR. 69 
 
 falling on me, but at length, with a scream of agony and 
 a bound, he fell dead — his body touching my own fallen 
 steed. What I had been in momentary dread of, now 
 occurred — my wounded limb, which was lying across 
 the horse, received another ball in the ankle. 
 
 " I now felt disposed to give up ; and, exhausted 
 through pain and excitement, a film gathered over my 
 eyes, which I thought was the precursor of dissolution. 
 From this hopeless state I was aroused by a wounded 
 Mexican, calling out to me, < Bueno Americano J and 
 turning my eyes towards the spot, I saw that he wa? 
 holding a certificate and calling to me. The tide of 
 action now rolled away from me, and hope again sprung 
 up. The Mexican uniforms began to disappear from 
 the chapparal, and squadrons of our troops passed in 
 sight, apparently in pursuit. While I was thus nursing 
 the prospect of escape, I beheld, not far from me, a 
 villanous-looking ranchero, armed with an American 
 sergeant's short sword, despatching a wounded American 
 soldier, whose body he robbed — the next he came to 
 was a Mexican, whom he served the same way, and 
 thus I looked on while he murderously slew four. I 
 drew an undischarged pistol from my holsters, and, laying 
 myself along my horse's neck, watched him, expecting 
 to be the next victim ; but something frightened him 
 from his vulture-like business, and he fled in another 
 direction. I need not say that had he visited me I 
 should have taken one more shot at the enemy, and 
 would have died content had I succeeded in making 
 such an assassin bite the dust. Two hours after, I had 
 the pleasure of shaking some of my comrades by the 
 hand, who were picking up the wounded. They lifted 
 my Mexican friend, too, and I am pleased to say he, as 
 
70 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 well as myself, live to fight over again the sanguine fray 
 of llesaca de la Palma-." 
 
 The following is the Mexican general's account of the. 
 battle of Palo Alto. It is a very amusing specimen of 
 Mexican rhetoric, which has been so frequently called 
 into requisition since the commencement of the present 
 war, for the purpose of converting a defeat into a vic- 
 tory. 
 
 General-in-Chief, 
 
 Most Excellent Sir : Constant in my purpose ol 
 preventing General Taylor from uniting the forces which 
 he brought from the Fronton of Sante Isabel, with 
 those which he left fortified opposite Matamoras, I 
 moved this day from the Fanques del Raminero, whence 
 I despatched my last extraordinary courier, and took the 
 direction of Palo Alto, as soon as my spies informed me 
 that the enemy had left Fronton, with the determination 
 of introducing into his fort wagons loaded with provi- 
 sions and heavy artillery. 
 
 I arrived opposite Palo Alto about one o'clock, 
 and observed that the enemy was entering that posi 
 tion. 
 
 With all my forces, I established the line of battle in 
 a great plain, my .right resting upon an elevation, and 
 my left on a slough of difficult passage. 
 
 Scarcely was the first cannon fired, when there arrived 
 General Pedro de Ampudia, second in command, whom 
 I had ordered to join me after having covered the points 
 which might serve to besiege the enemy in the forts 
 opposite Matamoras. 
 
 The forces under my orders amounted to 3000 men, 
 and twelve pieces of artillery ; those of the invaders 
 
TAYLOR. 71 
 
 were 3000, rather less than more, and were superior in 
 artillery, since they had twenty pieces of the calibre of 
 sixteen and eighteen pounds. 
 
 The battle commenced so ardently, that the fire of 
 eannon did not cease a single moment. In the course 
 of it, the enemy wished to follow the road towards 
 Matamoras, to raise the siege of his troops : with which 
 object he fired the grass, and formed in front of his line 
 of battle a smoke so thick, that he succeeded in cover- 
 ing himself from our view, but by means of manoeuvres 
 this was twice embarrassed. 
 
 General Taylor maintained his attack rather defen- 
 sively than offensively, employing his best arm, which 
 is artillery, protected by half of the infantry, and all of 
 his cavalry, — keeping the remainder fortified in the 
 ravine, about two thousand yards from the field of 
 
 battle. 
 
 I was anxious for the charge, because the fire of can- 
 non did much damage in our ranks, and I instructed 
 General D. Anastasio Torrejon to execute it with th« 
 greater part of the cavalry, by our left flank, while one 
 should be executed at the same time by our right flank, 
 with some columns of infantry, and the remainder of 
 that arm [cavalry]. 
 
 I was waiting the moment when that general should 
 execute the charge, and the effect of it should begin to 
 be seen, in order to give the impulse on the right ; but 
 he was checked by fire of the enemy, which defended 
 a slough that embarrassed the attack. 
 
 Some battalions, becoming impatient by the loss 
 which they suffered, fell into disorder, demanding to 
 advance or fall back. I immediately caused them to 
 charge with a column of cavalry, under the command 
 
72 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 of Colonel D. Cayetano Montero ; the result of this ope- 
 ration being that the dispersed corps repaired their fault 
 as far as possible, marching towards the enemy, who, in 
 conscience of his distance, was enabled to fall back 
 upon his reserve, and night coming on, the battle was 
 concluded, — the field remaining for our arms. 
 
 Every suitable measure was then adopted, and the 
 division took up a more concentrated curve in the same 
 scene of action. 
 
 The combat was long and bloody, which may be esti- 
 mated from the calculations made by the commandant- 
 general of artillery, General D. Thomas Requena, who 
 assures me that the enemy threw about three thousand 
 cannon-shots from two in the afternoon, when the battle 
 commenced, until seven at night, when it terminated, — 
 six hundred and fifty being fired on our side. 
 
 The national arms shone forth, since they did not 
 yield a hand's-breadth of ground, notwithstanding the 
 superiority in artillery of the enemy, who suffered much 
 damage. 
 
 Our troops have to lament the loss of two hundred 
 and fifty-two men, dispersed, wounded, and killed, — 
 the last worthy of national recollection and gratitude for 
 the intrepidity with which they died fighting for the 
 most sacred of causes. 
 
 Will your excellency please with this note to report 
 to his excellency the President, representing to him that 
 I will take care to give a circumstantial account of this 
 deed of arms ; and recommending to him the good con- 
 duct of all the generals, chiefs, officers, and soldiers 
 under my orders, for sustaining so bloody a combat, 
 which does honour to our arms, and exhibits their dis- 
 cipline. 
 
TAYLOR. 73 
 
 Accept the assurances of my consideration and grc t 
 regard. 
 
 God and Liberty! 
 
 Head-Quarters, Palo Alto, in sight of the enemy, May f 
 1846. 
 
 MARIANO ARISTA. 
 
 Most Excellent Sir, 
 Minister of War and Marine. 
 
 When the American army had formed its line of battle 
 in front of the Mexicans on the 8th of May, Lieutenant 
 J. E. Blake, of the topographical engineers, mounted 
 his horse and rode out within 150 yards of the enemy's 
 lines to reconnoitre. He then dismounted, drew out his 
 pocket glass very deliberately, and began to reconnoitre. 
 
 On this being observed by the enemy, two of their 
 officers rode out from the ranks to meet him, supposing 
 that he sought a parley. Seeing this, Blake remounted 
 his horse, rode deliberately down the whole of the 
 enemy's line, and then returning, gave General Taylor 
 an accurate account of the enemy's force in infantry, 
 artillery, and cavalry. This action called forth the un- 
 qualified admiration of the thousands who witnessed 
 it : and increased the regret occasioned by his subsequent 
 loss. On the morning of the next day, this fine officer 
 received a mortal wound from the accidental explosion 
 of one of his pistols as he threw down his holsters. He 
 died a few hours afterwards, expressing his regret that 
 he had not fallen on the battle-field of Palo Alto. His 
 remains were subsequently brought to the residence of 
 his father in Philadelphia, and honoured with a public 
 funeral of the most magnificent kind. A whole city 
 mourned the loss of one of her noblest sons. 
 
 One of the most romantic incidents of Resaca de la 
 
74 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 Palma, was Captain May's capture of the heroic Vega. 
 The Mexicans had been driven from their guns by May's 
 dragoons, and charged back with the bayonet to recover 
 them. May, with a handful of men, charged again, and 
 the Mexicans fell back. He observed that one alone 
 kept his ground, and tried to rally the others. Failing 
 in this, he seized a match, intending to discharge one of 
 the cannon, when May ordered him to surrender. He 
 touched his breast, and said " General La Vega is a prison- 
 er," and gave up his sword. The incidents which fol- 
 lowed, are thus described by a correspondent of the 
 Baltimore Republican : 
 
 "I have seen it stated, in some of the late papers, that 
 General Vega was delivered to General Taylor on the 
 battle-field by Colonel Twiggs. This is an error — cer- 
 tainly of no consequence after his capture by the gallant 
 May ; but as everything connected with the treatment 
 of this distinguished prisoner on the field, must be more 
 or less interesting, I beg leave to correct the error, and 
 to state what befell the gallant general, after he was con- 
 ducted to Colonel Twiggs, by order of Captain May. 
 
 " The artillery battalion (a regiment of foot) was sta 
 tioned on the 9th at the outset of the chapparal, and was 
 there formed ' in square.' This battalion, which had 
 suffered the day before more than any other, except the 
 8th infantry, was placed in this position for these reasons : 
 to protect the train against a charge of the enemy's cav- 
 alry, to repair any disaster which might occur in the 
 ordnance, and to afford fresh troops for the pursuit, when 
 the battle was gained. 
 
 " Colonel Twiggs sent for Colonel Childs, who com- 
 manded it, and turned the prisoner over to him; but 
 Childs, having dismounted (General Vega was on foot) 
 
TAYLOR. 
 
 75 
 
 sent an order to his battalion, that the prisoner should 
 be received with the honour due his rank. As soon as 
 the prisoner issued from the chapparal, the words < Pre- 
 sent Arms' were given. The square < presented arms' 
 in perfect silence, and, as he approached, not a smile of 
 gratification, or a word of exultation, was seen or heard ; 
 (so much for the delicacy of the common soldier, who 
 had, perhaps, the day before, lost his nearest friend by 
 the enemy's cannon-shot.) General Vega seemed sur- 
 prised at the salute, courteously and slowly raised his 
 hat, and the square was brought to a shoulder. 
 
 « Colonel Childs then called from his position Captain 
 Magruder, who commanded one of the companies of the 
 square. Captain Magruder had known General Vega 
 before, and immediately insisted upon his mounting his 
 /Captain M.'s) horse. No sooner was this done, than it 
 became necessary for the battalion to move on, and Cap- 
 tain Magruder was ordered by Colonel Childs to escort 
 the prisoner, in security, with a small command, to 
 General Taylor. Fortunately no rescue was attempted, 
 as his command was very small, and the order was 
 promptly executed, when General Vega was introduced 
 on the field, by Captain Magruder, to General Taylor. 
 General Taylor shook him warmly by the hand, and ad- 
 dressed to him the following handsome remarks : 
 
 <■<■ < General : I do assure you, I deeply regret that this 
 misfortune has fallen upon you. I regret it sincerely, and 
 I take great pleasure in returning you the sword which 
 you have this day worn with so much gallantry,' handing 
 him, at the same time, the sword which General Vega 
 had yielded to Captain May. General Vega made a 
 suitable reply in Spanish, and was then taken charge of 
 by Colonel Twiggs, at the colonel's own request, and 
 
7G TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 entei ;>\iried by him in the most hospitable manner, in his 
 own tent, until his departure for New Orleans. 
 
 " One must record and admire so much courtesy and 
 gentleness, united, in a most sanguinary field, with so 
 much devotion and courage." 
 
COMMODORE DAVID CONNER. 
 
CHAPTER V. 
 
 Taylor's humanity — Exchange of prisoners — Our army crosses 
 the Rio Grande — Capture of Matamoras. 
 
 On the morning after the battle of Resaca de la Palma, 
 General Taylor, with his usual humanity, sent to Mata- 
 moras for Mexican surgeons to attend their own wounded, 
 and for men to bury their dead ; and the same day was 
 occupied by the Americans in burying their dead. 
 
 On the 11th of May an exchange of prisoners took 
 place ; and General Taylor started for Point Isabel for 
 the purpose of communicating with Commodore Conner, 
 commanding the American squadron in the Gulf of 
 Mexico, w T ho had sailed to Brazos Santiago, in order to 
 render aid to the general. The interview is thus hu- 
 morously described by Mr. Thorpe, in his book entitled 
 " Our Army on the Rio Grande," which we would 
 remark, in passing, is by far the most accurate, full, and 
 entertaining account of the early operations of the Army 
 of Occupation, which has yet appeared. 
 
 " The singular simplicity that marks General Taylor's 
 personal appearance and habits, has become a subject 
 of universal fame. It is curious that a soldier, so emi- 
 nent in all the qualities of discipline, should be so 
 citizen-looking in his own appearance. Commodore 
 Conner, on the contrary, is an officer that is not only 
 strict in his dress, but has an extra nicety about it. He 
 appears in full and splendid uniform on all public occa- 
 
78 TAYLOR AND HIS G&NEBALS. 
 
 sions, being the exact contrast, in this particular, of 
 General Taylor. 
 
 "At the proper time, Commodore Conner sent word 
 to General Taylor, that he would come on shore to pay 
 him a visit of ceremony. This put old < Rough and 
 Ready' into a tremendous excitement. If Commodore 
 Conner had quietly come up to his tent, and given him 
 a sailor's grip, and sat down on a camp-chest, and 
 talked over matters in an old-fashioned way, General 
 Taylor would have been prepared; but, to have ihe 
 most carefully-dressed officer in our navy, commanding 
 the finest fleet, come in full uniform, surrounded by all 
 the glittering pomp of splendid equipments — to pay a 
 visit of ceremony, was more than General Taylor had, 
 without some effort, nerve to go through with , but, ever 
 equal to the emergencies, he determined to compliment 
 Commodore Conner, and through him the navy, by ap- 
 pearing in full uniform,^ a thing his officers, associated 
 with him for years, had never witnessed. 
 
 " In the meanwhile, Commodore Conner was coffita- 
 ting over the most proper way to compliment General 
 Taylor. Having heard of his peculiar disregard of mili- 
 tary dress, he concluded he would make the visit in a 
 manner comporting to General Taylor's habits, and con- 
 sequently equipped himself in plain white drilling, and, 
 unattended, came ashore. 
 
 " The moment General Taylor heard that Commodore 
 Conner had landed, he abandoned some heavy work he 
 was personally attending to about the camp, and precipi- 
 tately rushed into his tent, delved at the bottom of an 
 old chest, and pulled out a uniform coat, that had peace- 
 fully slumbered for years m undisturbed quietude, slipped 
 himself into it, in his haste fastening it so that one side 
 of the standing collar was three button-holes above the 
 
TAYLOR. 79 
 
 other, and sat himself down as uncomfortable as can 
 well be imagined. With quiet step, and unattended, 
 Commodore Conner presented himself at General Tay- 
 lor's tent. The noble representatives of the army and 
 navy shook hands, both in exceeding astonishment at 
 each other's personal appearance. 
 
 " The wags of the army say, that the above contains 
 the only authentic account of General Taylor's ever 
 being « headed,' and that since that time, he has taken 
 to linen roundabouts, of the largest dimensions, with 
 more pertinacity than ever." 
 
 The following despatch contains General Taylor's 
 own account of his movements on the 12th. 
 
 Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation, > 
 Point Isabel, Texas, May 12, 1846. j 
 
 Sir : I am making a hasty visit to this place, for the 
 purpose of having an interview with Commodore Con- 
 ner, whose squadron is now at anchor off the harbour, 
 and arranging with him a combined movement up the 
 river. I avail myself of the brief time at my command 
 to report that the main body of the army is now 
 occupying its former position opposite Matamoras. 
 The Mexican forces are almost disorganized, and I shall 
 lose no time in investing Matamoras, and opening the 
 navigation of the river. 
 
 I regret to report that Major Ringgold died the 
 morning of the 11th instant, of the severe wound re- 
 ceived in the action of Palo Alto. With the exception 
 of Captain Page, whose wound is dangerous, the other 
 wounded officers are doing well. In my report of the 
 second engagement, I accidentally omitted the name 
 of Lieutenant Dobbins, 3d infantry, among the officers 
 slightly wounded, and desire that the omission may be 
 
SO TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 supplied in the despatch itself. I am under the painful 
 necessity of reporting that Lieutenant Blake, Topogra- 
 phical Engineers, after rendering distinguished service 
 in my staff during the affair of the 8th instant, acci- 
 dentally shot himself with a pistol on the following day, 
 and expired before night. 
 
 It has been quite impossible as yet to furnish detailed 
 reports of our engagements with the enemy, or even 
 accurate returns of the killed and wounded. Our loss 
 is not far from three officers and forty men killed, and 
 thirteen officers and one hundred men wounded ; while 
 that of the enemy has in all probability exceeded three 
 hundred killed; more than two hundred have been 
 buried by us on the two fields of battle. 
 
 I have exchanged a sufficient number of prisoners to 
 recover the command of Captain Thornton. The 
 wounded prisoners have been sent to Matamoras — the 
 wounded officers on their parole. General Vega- and a 
 few other officers 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 prisoners as may be authorized by 
 law. Our own prisoners have been treated with great 
 kindness by the Mexican officers. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 Z. TAYLOR, 
 Brevet Brig. Gen. U. S. Ji., Commanding 
 The Adjutant-General of the Army, j 
 Washington, D. C. i 
 
 The loth and 14th of May were spent by General 
 Taylor in organizing and despatching a force to capture 
 Barita, a town near the mouth of the Rio Grande, on 
 the Mexican side, where the enemv was said to be con- 
 
TAYLOR. Si 
 
 centrating the remains of his shattered and vanquished 
 army. Commodore Conner ordered a part of his fleet 
 to co-operate, and the place was quietly taken on the 
 loth, the inhabitants fleeing on the approach of the 
 Americans. 
 
 The next operation was the capture of Matamoras. 
 Everything w r as ready for an attack on the town on the 
 evening of the 16th. 
 
 On the morning of the 17th, about sunrise, Gene- 
 ral Ampudia gave the signal that he wished a parley 
 with General Taylor. He sent over to the camp a 
 person, and requested of General Taylor the granting 
 of an armistice. To this General Taylor replied, " Sir, 
 the time for asking an armistice is past ; you should 
 have thought of this before ; it is now too late to think 
 of such a thing." General Ampudia then desired a 
 suspension of hostilities. This, also, General Taylor 
 positively refused. He had brought out all his cannon to 
 the front, and was determined they should render some 
 service, at the same time pointing to the cannon and its 
 position. General Ampudia then asked General Taylor 
 if in surrendering the town he would be allowed to ex- 
 cept the government property. General Taylor replied 
 " No," and that he intended to take the town at 8 A. M. 
 the next day. 
 
 Ampudia then retired, and General Taylor marched 
 his forces up to Fort Brown, and at daylight commenced 
 crossing the river. No resistance was offered by the 
 Mexicans on the bank of the river, and it is said many 
 of them assisted in landing the boats. One officer, a 
 lieutenant, was drowned in crossing the river. After 
 crossing they were met by a number of Mexican officers, 
 who desired to know of General Taylor if they could 
 retain the government property. General Taylor re- 
 
82 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 plied " that he wanted all the town." The American 
 forces then marched into the place, and Adjutant Bliss 
 rode up to the fort, and sounding the parley, demanded 
 the surrender of the town. He was asked if the 
 government property would be excepted. He replied 
 c; that nothing could be retained, all must be sur- 
 rendered." 
 
 The Mexican flag was immediately hauled down, 
 and the star-spangled banner was run up in its stead. 
 
 The citizens joined loudly in the cheering of the army. 
 A sufficient force was then placed in the fort, and the 
 army, after moving through the town, drew off and en- 
 camped in the vicinity. Not a gun was fired. 
 
 On arriving at the city, it was discovered that Arista 
 had departed with his forces, leaving only the mounted 
 battery ; all the mortars, and such of the military appa- 
 ratus as could not be removed in their haste to escape, 
 were thrown into the wells. A party from our army 
 went out to reconnoitre immediately after the entrance 
 into Matamoras, and overtook a portion of the Mexi- 
 cans, who were retreating, twenty-two of whom were 
 made prisoners. 
 
 Arista retreated toReynosa,where he encamped, wait- 
 ing a reinforcement from Paredes. 
 
 General Taylor, like a true American officer, gave 
 orders to his army not to take the slightest article with- 
 out paying for its actual value. The citizens of Mata- 
 moras were permitted to go on with their business as 
 usual, with the exception of selling liquors. 
 
CHAPTER VI. 
 
 Siege and capture of Monterey. 
 
 The following letter from an American at Point Isabel, 
 dated May 26th, 1846, gives a graphic account of the 
 state of affairs which immediately followed the capture 
 of Matamoras : 
 
 " I arrived here yesterday morning, on the steamer 
 Florida, after a passage of eight days, and find that the 
 news of the taking of Matamoras was carried from here 
 a week ago. There is nothing occurring here now of stir- 
 ring interest, the fighting having ceased, for some weeks 
 to come at least, and I am inclined to think that there 
 will be no more of it on the .Rio Grande. Our army 
 must seek the enemy in their own country if they desire 
 to meet them in any considerable bodies. Ampudia's 
 defeat on the 8th and 9th, has ruined the Mexican army 
 now in the north. They have lost everything, mules, 
 pack-saddles, ammunition, arms, and men enough to 
 strike terror to their hearts. Port Polk, as this point is 
 now called, is a complete museum at the present moment, 
 with its Mexican booty — Mexican prisoners, mules, 
 lances, saddles curiously wrought, leather pack-saddles, 
 huge saddle-bags, muskets, drums, ordnance, copper 
 cannon-balls, grape-shot, letters and all kinds of docu- 
 ments picked up on the ground where Ampudia was 
 encamped. One of the officers, who was in the two 
 engagements, says that the supper which the Mexicans 
 had in their confidence prepared for themselves, and 
 
84 TAYLUR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 which they were obliged so suddenly to abandon, afforded 
 a rich repast to our tired and hungry officers and men. 
 He pronounces their liquors, chocolate, soups, roast beef, 
 &c, to have been first rate. Ampudia's plate, which 
 was valuable, was promptly returned to him. Most of 
 the wounded have been sent to Corpus Christi, but there 
 are still enough here to represent most painfully the sad 
 results of war. Captain Page, whose under jaw was 
 completely shot away, is in a fair way of recovering. 
 Captain Hooe is walking about with the stump of his 
 right arm dangling by his side, and appears to be in 
 excellent humour. Colonel Mcintosh, who was badly 
 wounded, was stretched out yesterday in a Mexican 
 w T agon, trying to read. He was stabbed in the throat, or 
 rather down the throat, in the neck, and in other parts of 
 the body, and was repeatedly knocked down in the fight. 
 Lieutenant Maclay, who was wounded in the action of 
 the 9th, is here, with an awfully sore shin, across which 
 a Mexican grape-shot passed, shaving a leetle closer than 
 was safe, as it carried with it a slice of bone and sinew 
 Instances of individual heroism occurred at those two 
 engagements which would have immortalized a Spartan. 
 " Volunteers are gathering here in crowds. Yesterday 
 the Ondiaka, Mary Kingsland, Florida, and Orleans, 
 arrived with troops from New Orleans. A company of 
 Texan rangers came down to Padre Island, and were 
 crossing over last evening. Some are encamped near 
 the fort, on the prairie, and six companies of Louisiana 
 volunteers are encamped on the Point, 3J T miles 
 distant, at the bar. I had the pleasure, yesterday, of 
 meeting General Memucan Hunt, of the Texan volun- 
 teers. The general looks well, and is anxious to be on 
 the field. His men are hardy-looking fellows. All they 
 pray for is to be permitted to go out through the interior, 
 
TAYLUK. 80 
 
 as our army marches on towards Mexico, and to take 
 such towns as they can reach. Their knowledge of the 
 country, their hardihood, and experience in fighting 
 Mexicans, fit them peculiarly for such service. 
 
 " There are more than twenty vessels lying here, inside 
 and outside of the bar — one frigate of war, and the 
 balance transports and trading-vessels. The Florida 
 drew less than seven feet, and bumped heavily on the 
 bar, as she came over yesterday morning. The sutlers 
 put the screws to the poor soldiers here at a cruel rate, 
 in the way of charges. It is really outrageous, and 
 should be looked to by those in power." 
 
 General Taylor, although now in possession of Mata- 
 moras, found himself in no condition to advance further 
 into the enemy's country. He was deficient not only in 
 troops, but in supplies and the means of transportation. 
 It became necessary, therefore, for him to remain at this 
 post through the greater part of the summer, waiting for 
 the necessary means of prosecuting the invasion. 
 
 The Mexican inhabitants of Mataraoras, though at first 
 rather shy of the Americans, soon became familiarized 
 with them, and readily furnished provisions, taking care 
 to be very liberally paid for them. Assassinations of strag- 
 glers from the camp occasionally took place ; but on the 
 whole the inhabitants seemed cheerfully to acquiesce in 
 the altered state of affairs. 
 
 In the beginning of June General Taylor's force did 
 not exceed 9000 men, including 750 stationed at Barita, 
 and 500 at Point Isabel. Reinforcements were coming 
 in slowly from the different states of the union, and, al- 
 though he was anticipating the arrival of a sufficient force 
 to warrant his advance towards Monterey, where the 
 enemy was concentrating his forces, neither men nor 
 
86 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 steamboats had yet arrived sufficient to enable him even to 
 fix the time of his departure. 
 
 In the meantime the Mexicans were not only dis- 
 couraged by defeat, but distracted by internal dissensions. 
 Paredes, the president of the republic, was reported to 
 have superseded his defeated generals and assumed the 
 command ; but his authority was defied by Arista, v*ho 
 was organizing one of those insurrections which are so 
 frequent in the political history of Mexico. The election 
 of the 16th of June, however, resulted in the choice 
 of Paredes as president, and General Bravo, the gover- 
 nor of Vera Cuiz, as vice president. 
 
 By the military arrangements which followed this re- 
 organization of the government, General Arevalo was 
 sent to Monterey, and Bravo to Mexico, while Mejia 
 was placed in the command of the northern army, and 
 Ampudia was ordered to San Luis Potosi. Monterey, 
 being considered the most probable scene of General 
 Taylor's next operations, was strongly fortified and fur- 
 nished with provisions and munitions of war. 
 
 Before the end of June General Taylor was strongly rein- 
 forced by the arrival of numerous bodies of fresh volunteers 
 from various parts of the union ; but bis means of transpor- 
 tation were still deficient. A very intelligent writer says, 
 " Had General Taylor received the number of volunteers 
 he called for in the first instance, with a sufficiency of 
 steamers with which to move them and their subsistence, 
 it is thought by those best acquainted that the 4th of 
 July would have been celebrated in Monterey instead of 
 Matamoras. The Mexicans certainly could not have 
 recovered from the panic with which they started from 
 Resaca de la Palma in season to make a formidable stand 
 this side the mountains, so that Monterey could have 
 been taken without firing a gun. It is too late now. A 
 
TAYLOR. 87 
 
 tardiness in forwarding steamers has deprived the com- 
 manding general of a most glorious opportunity of occu- 
 pying one of the strongest holds of the enemy." 
 
 On the other hand, the secretary of war, in his annual 
 report, thus apologizes for the apparent neglect of the 
 government to follow up the brilliant successes of General 
 Taylor by prompt and adequate support : 
 
 " Owing to the great difficulty in providing the means 
 of transporting supplies for so large a force as that con- 
 centrated on the Rio Grande ; to the necessity of draw- 
 ing all those supplies from the United States — the enemy's 
 country being destitute of them ; to the unusual freshets 
 which retarded the progress of boats on the river, and to 
 the impracticability of the land route for wagons at that 
 time, arrangements for the movement upon Monterey 
 from Matamoras, by the way of Camargo, the route 
 selected by the commanding general, were not completed 
 until the latter part of August, w 7 hen a column, consisting 
 of about 6000 regular and volunteer troops, commenced 
 a forward movement by brigade upon Seralvo, and thence 
 upon Monterey, before which place it arrived on the 19th 
 of September." 
 
 In the meantime Captain McCulloch with the Texan 
 rangers had seized and occupied the Mexican ports of 
 Reynosa, Camargo, and Mier, without resistance on the 
 part of the enemy. It was not until the 5th of August, 
 nearly three months after the battle of Resaca de la 
 Palma, that General Taylor was able to take up his 
 line of march from Matamoras for Camargo. On 
 arriving at that place, General Worth was detached to 
 San Juan, while Captain Wall occupied Reynosa, and 
 General Twiggs had been left in command of Matamo- 
 ras. Towards the end of August, General Worth was 
 ordered to advance to Seralvo and there to await further 
 6 
 
88 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 orders. From this port he sent advices to General 
 Taylor on the 5th of September, that Monterey had 
 just been reinforced by the arrival of 3000 men under 
 General Ampudia, thus increasing the garrison to 
 4000. 
 
 This important information determined General Tay- 
 lor to advance immediately and attack Monterey. He 
 accordingly took up his line of march towards Seralvo 
 on the 7th, leaving General Patterson in command of all 
 the forces stationed between Camargo and Matamoras. 
 
 Disencumbering his troops of all unnecessary baggage, 
 and sending forward his supplies on pack-mules to 
 Seralvo, Taylor now hastened eagerly on to the next 
 scene in his grand drama. On his arrival at Seralvo, 
 instead of waiting for further reinforcements or fresh 
 orders before attacking so formidable a fort with so 
 light a force, he pushed forward for Monterey with his 
 main body, consisting of but little more than 6000 
 men. 
 
 Signs of opposition now began to appear. Skirmish- 
 ing parties made some slight demonstrations at Ramas, 
 but were easily swept aside ; and deserters from the 
 enemy spoke of formidable preparations in the city 
 which the army was so rapidly approaching. Still there 
 was no faltering. Every officer and man was eager to 
 hear the first roar of the enemy's cannon. Three 
 months of inaction had rendered them eager for the 
 coming contest. 
 
 On the morning of the 19th of September, the army 
 encamped at the " Walnut Springs," within three milts 
 of the city of Monterey. Here they could survey the 
 prospect before them — Monterey seated in a beautiful 
 valley, bosomed among lofty and imposing mountains on 
 the north, east, and south, and open to a plain on the 
 
TAYLOR. 
 
 89 
 
 east, fortified with thick stone walls in the old Spanish 
 fashion of another century, with all the apparatus of 
 ditches and bastions, and lowering upon them with deep- 
 mouthed cannon. From their elevated position the 
 Americans could see in part what they had already 
 learnt from spies and deserters, that the flat-roofed stone 
 houses of the city itself, had been converted into fortifi- 
 cations. Every street was barricaded, and every house- 
 top was bristling* with musketry. On one side the 
 Americans could see the Bishop's Palace, a strong fort 
 well fortified ; on the other, redoubts well manned; and in 
 the rear of all, a river. Such was the city which was 
 destined after three days of desperate fighting, to sur- 
 render its garrison of 10,000 men, its castles, redoubts, 
 cannon and munitions of w T ar, to an American army of 
 7000 men, inspirited by the guiding genius of Taylor. 
 
 General Taylor's despatches always afford the clearest 
 possible coup d'ceil of the ground plan of his operations. 
 We shall therefore commence our notice of this siege in 
 his own words ; and then give the official reports of his 
 officers, following up these documents by the personal 
 narrative of an eye-witness, whose details of individual 
 feeling, and deeds of personal prowess, will serve to fill 
 up and colour the outline contained in the official des- 
 patches. 
 
 GENERAL TAYLOR'S DESPATCH. 
 
 Head-Quarters, Army of Occupation, j 
 Camp near Monterey. Oct. 9^,1846. j 
 
 Sir: I have now the honour to submit a detailed 
 report of the recent operations before Monterey, re- 
 sulting 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 
 6 
 
90 TAYL.OR AND HIS GEHEKALS. 
 
 with our advance at the village of Ramas, induced the 
 belief, as we approached Monterey, that the enemy 
 would defend that place. Upon reaching the neigh- 
 bourhood of the city on the morning of the 19th of Sep- 
 tember, this belief was fully confirmed. It was ascer- 
 tained 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 fortified, and occupied with troops and artillery. 
 It was known, from information previously received, 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 
 me to suspect that it was practicable to turn all the 
 works in that direction, and thus cut off the enemy's 
 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 Engineers. 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 
 
TAYLOR. 91 
 
 a position on the Saltillo road, and to carry the enemy's 
 detached works in that quarter, where practicable. The 
 first regiment of 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 w]iich commands it. 
 To divert his attention as far as practicable, the first 
 division, under Brigadier-General Twiggs, and field 
 division of volunteers, under Major-General Butler, 
 were displayed in front of the town until dark. Ar- 
 rangements 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 24-pounder howit- 
 zers, and a 10-inch mortar, w T ith 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 meantime 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 elsewhere, 
 under my immediate direction, referring you for the 
 
92 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 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 1st division, and 
 the field division of volunteers, w T ere ordered under arms, 
 and took the direction of the city, leaving one company 
 of each regiment as a camp guard. The 2d dragoons, 
 under Lieutenant-Colonel May, and Colonel Woods' 
 regiment of Texas mounted volunteers, under the imme- 
 diate direction of General Henderson, were directed to the 
 right to support General Worth, if necessary, and to make 
 an impression, if practicable, upon the upper quarter of the 
 city. Upon approaching the mortar battery, the 1st 
 and 3d regiments of infantry, and battalion of Baltimore 
 and Washington volunteers, with Captain Bragg's field 
 battery — the whole under the command of Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Garland — were directed towards the lower part 
 of the town, with orders to make a strong demonstra- 
 tion, and carry one of the enemy's advanced works, if 
 it could be done without too heavy loss. Major Mans- 
 field, Engineers, and Captain Williams and Lieutenant 
 Pope, Topographical Engineers, accompanied this col- 
 umn, Major Mansfield being charged with its direction, 
 and the designation of points of attack. 
 
 In the meantime, the mortar, served by Captain Ram- 
 say, of the ordnance, and the howitzer battery under 
 Captain Webster, 1st artillery, had opened their fire upon 
 the citadel, which was deliberately sustained, and an- 
 swered from the work. General Butler's division had 
 
TAYLOR. 93 
 
 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 com- 
 mand had become warmly engaged. I now deemed it 
 necessary to support this attack, and accordingly ordered 
 the 4th infantry, and three regiments of General Butler's 
 division, to march at once, by the left flank, in the direc- 
 tion of the advanced work at the lower extremity of the 
 town, leaving one regiment (1st Kentucky) to cover the 
 mortar and howitzer battery. By 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 approach- 
 ed the town in a direction to the right of the advanced 
 work (No. 1,) at the north-eastern angle of the city, and 
 the engineer officer, covered by skirmishers, had suc- 
 ceeded in entering the suburbs and gaining cover. 
 The remainder of this command now advanced and en- 
 tered 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 front. A movement 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 a fire which they could not effectually return, 
 and had already sustained such severe loss, particularly 
 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 gainel the roof of a tannery, which looked directlj 
 into the gorge of No. 1, and from which he poured a 
 most destructive fire into that work and upon the strong 
 building in its rear. This fire happily coincided in point 
 of time with the advance of a portion of the volunteer 
 
94 
 
 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 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 meantime 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, while General Butler, 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-third of 
 the officers and men, and rendered it necessary to retire 
 and effect a conjunction with the two other companies 
 then advancing. General Quitman's brigade, though 
 suffering most severely, particularly in the Tennessee 
 regiment, continued its advance, and finally carried the 
 work in handsome style, as well as the strong building 
 in its rear. Five pieces of artillery, a considerable sup- 
 ply of ammunition, and thirty prisoners, including 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 retrogade movement ; but learning almost im- 
 mediately 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 defences al- 
 ready gained. General Butler, with the 1st Ohio regi- 
 ment, then entered the town at a point further to the 
 left, and inarched in the direction of the battery No. 2 
 While making an examination with a view to ascer- 
 tain the possibility of carrying this second work by 
 
TAYLOR. 95 
 
 storm, the general was wounded and soon after com- 
 pelled to quit the field. As the strength of No. 2, and 
 the heavy musketry fire flanking the approach, ren 
 dered it impossible to carry it without great loss, the 1st 
 Ohio regiment was withdrawn from the town. 
 
 Fragments of the various regiments engaged were 
 now under cover of the captured battery and some build- 
 ings in its front, and on the right. The field battery oi 
 Captains Bragg and Ridgely was also partially covered 
 by the battery. An incessant fire was kept on this posi- 
 tion from battery No. 2, and other works on its right, 
 and from the citadel on all our approaches. General 
 Twiggs, 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 meantime, I directed such men as could 
 be collected of the 1st, 3d, and 4th regiments and Balti 
 more battalion, to enter the town, penetrating to the 
 right, and carry the 2d battery if possible. This com- 
 mand, under Lieutenant-Colonel Garland, advanced be- 
 yond the bridge " Purisima," when, finding it impracti- 
 cable to gain the rear of the 2d 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 opera- 
 tion had been effected, the command, including 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 with his battery to a 
 suitable position, from which a few discharges effectually 
 
96 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 dispersed the enemy. Captain Miller, 1st infantry, was 
 despatched with a mixed command to support the bat- 
 tery on this service. The enemy's lancers had pre- 
 viously charged upon the Ohio and a part of the Mis- 
 sissippi regiments, near some fields at a distance from 
 the edge of the town, and had been repulsed with con- 
 siderable loss. A demonstration of cavalry on the oppo- 
 site 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 approach of 
 evening all the troops that had been engaged were or- 
 dered back to the camp, except Captain Ridgely's bat- 
 tery and the regular infantry of the 1st division, who 
 were detailed as a guard for the works during the night, 
 under command of Lieutenant-Colonel Garland. One 
 battalion of the 1st Kentucky regiment was ordered to 
 reinforce this command. Intrenching tools were pro- 
 cured, and additional strength was 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 carried, and we now 
 had a 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 ; Lieutenants 
 Terrett and Dilworth, 1st infantry; Lieutenant Woods, 
 2d infantry; Captains Morris and Field, Brevet-Major 
 Barbour, Lieutenants Irwin and Hazlitt, 3d infantry ; 
 Lieutenant Hoskins, 4th infantry; Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Watson, Baltimore battalion ; Captain Allen and Lieu- 
 
TAYLOR. 
 
 tenant Putnam, Tennessee regiment, and Lieutenant 
 Hett, Ohio regiment, were killed, or have since died of 
 wounds received in this engagement, while the number 
 and rank of the officers wounded gives additional proof 
 of the obstinacy of the contest, and the good conduct 
 of our troops. The number of killed and wounded inci- 
 dent 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 with 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, was relieved at mid- day by General 
 Quitman's brigade. Captain Bragg's battery was 
 thrown under cover in front of the town, to repel any 
 domonstration 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 was 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 with a 
 
98 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 strong 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 defences 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 works. 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, 
 
 * ~ DO ' 
 
 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 way 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 bri- 
 gade. Captain Bragg's battery was also ordered up, 
 supported by the 3d infantry, and after firing for some 
 time at the Cathedral, a portion of it was likewise 
 thrown into the 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 which the enemy's force was mainly concen- 
 trated. This advance was conducted vigorouslv, but 
 with due caution, and although destructive to the enemy, 
 was attended with but small loss on our part. Captain 
 Ridgely, in the meantime, had served a captured piece 
 in battery No. 1 against the city, until the advance of 
 our men rendered it imprudent to fire in the direction of 
 the Cathedral. I was now satisfied that we could ope- 
 
1 J 
 
 /?■?'"' '.v^.Ln-'/K 
 
TAYLOR. 10 J 
 
 rate successfully in the city, and that the enemy had 
 retired from the lower portion of it to make a stand be- 
 hind his barricades. As General Quitman's brigade had 
 been on duty the previous night, I determined to with- 
 draw 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 lower part of the city, was about 
 making an attack at the upper extremity, which had 
 also been evacuated by the enemy to a considerable dis- 
 tance. I regretted 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 11 o'clock 
 P. M., informed me that he had advanced to within a 
 short distance of the principal plaza, and that the mortar 
 (which had been sen,t to his division in the morning) 
 was doing good execution w T ithin effective range of the 
 enemy's position. 
 
 Desiring to make no further attempt upon the city 
 without complete concert as to the lines and mode of 
 approach, I instructed that officer to suspend his ad- 
 vance until I could have an interview 7 with him on the 
 following morning, at his head-quarters. 
 
 Early in the morning of the 24th I received, through 
 Colonel Moreno, a communication from General Ara- 
 pudia, proposing to evacuate the town ; which, with the 
 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 answer 
 
102 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 of the Mexican general at General Worth's head-quar- 
 ters, to which I soon repaired. In the meantime, Gene- 
 ral Ampudia had signified to General Worth his desire 
 for a personal interview with me, to which I acceded, 
 and which finally resulted in a capitulation, placing the 
 town and the material of war, with certain exceptions, 
 in our possession. A copy of that capitulation was 
 transmitted with my first despatch. 
 
 Upon occupying the city, it was discovered to be of 
 great strength in itself, and to have its approaches care- 
 fully and strongly fortified. The town and works were 
 armed with forty-two pieces of cannon, well supplied 
 with ammunition, and manned with a force of at least 7000 
 troops of the line, and from 2000 to 3000 irregulars. 
 The force under my orders before Monterey, as exhibited 
 by the accompanying return, was 425 officers, and 6220 
 men. Our artillery consisted of one ten inch mortar, 
 two twenty-four pounder howitzers, and four light field 
 batteries of four guns each — the mortar being the only 
 piece suitable to the operations of a siege. 
 
 Our loss is twelve officers and 108 men killed ; thirty, 
 one officers and 337 men wounded. That of the eaemj 
 is not known, but is believed considerably to exceed 
 our own. 
 
 I take pleasure in bringing to the notice of the g >vern- 
 ment the good conduct of the troops, both reguljjrs and 
 volunteers, which has been conspicuous throughout the 
 operations. I am proud to bear testimony to their cool- 
 ness and constancy in battle, and the cheerfulness with 
 which they have submitted to exposure and privation 
 To the general officers commanding divisions — Major 
 Generals Butler and Henderson, and Brigadier-Generals 
 Twiggs and Worth — I must express my obligations for 
 the efficient aid which they have rendered in their re- 
 
TAYLOR. J 03 
 
 jspective commands. I was unfortunately deprived, early 
 on the 21st, of the valuable services of Major-General 
 Butler, who was disabled by a wound received in the 
 attack on the city. Major-General Henderson, com- 
 manding the Texan volunteers, has given me important 
 aid in the organization of his command, and its subse- 
 quent operations. Brigadier-General Twiggs rendered 
 important services with his division, and, as the second 
 in command, after Major-General Butler, was disabled. 
 Brigadier-General Worth was intrusted with an important 
 detachment, which rendered his operations independent 
 of my own. These operations were conducted with 
 ability, and crowned with complete success. I desire 
 also to notice Brigadier-Generals Hamer and Quitman, 
 commanding brigades in General Butler's division. 
 Lieutenant-Colonels Garland and Wilson, commanding 
 brigades in General Twiggs's division ; Colonels Mitch- 
 ell, Campbell, Davis, and Wood, commanding the Ohio, 
 Tennessee, Mississippi, and 2d Texas regiments, re- 
 spectively ; and Majors Lear, Allen, and Abercrombie, 
 commanding the 3d, 4th, and 1st regiments of infantry : 
 all of whom served under my eye, and conducted their 
 commands with coolness and gallantry against the enemy. 
 Colonel Mitchell, Lieutenant-Colonel M'Clung, Missis- 
 sippi regiment, Major Lear, 3d infantry, and Major Alexan- 
 der, Tennessee regiment, were all severely wounded, as were 
 Captain Lamotte, 1st infantry, Lieutenant Graham, 4th 
 infantry, Adjutant Armstrong, Ohio regiment, Lieutenants 
 Scudder and Allen, Tennessee regiment, and Lieutenant 
 Howard, Mississippi regiment, while leading their men 
 against the enemy's position on the 21st and 23d. After the 
 fall of Colonel Mitchell, the command of the 1st Ohio 
 regiment devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Weller; 
 that of the 3d infantry, after the fall of Major Lear, 
 
104 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 devolved in succession upon Captain Bain bridge and 
 Captain Henry, the former being also wounded. The 
 following named officers have been favourably noticed 
 by their commanders : Lieutenant-Colonel Anderson 
 and Adjutant Heiman, Tennessee regiment ; Lieutenant- 
 Colonel M'Clung, Captains Cooper and Downing; 
 Lieutenants Batterson, Calhoun, Moore, Russel, and 
 Cook, Mississippi regiments ; also Sergeant - Major 
 Hearlan, Mississippi regiment; and Major Price and 
 Captain J. R. Smith, unattached, but serving with it. 
 I beg leave also to call attention to the good conduct of 
 Captain Johnson, Ohio regiment, and Lieutenant Hooker, 
 1st artillery, serving on the staff of General Hamer, 
 and of Lieutenant Nichols, 2d artillery, on that of 
 General Quitman. Captains Bragg and Ridgely served 
 with their batteries during the operations under my own 
 observation, and in part under my immediate orders, and 
 exhibited distinguished skill and gallantry. Captain Web- 
 ster, 1st artillery, assisted by Lieutenants Donaldson and 
 Bowen, rendered good service with the howitzer battery, 
 which was much exposed to the enemy's fire on the 21st. 
 
 From the nature of the operations, the 2d dragoons 
 were not brought into action, but were usefully employed, 
 under the direction of Lieutenant-Colonel May, as 
 escorts, and in keeping open our communications. The 
 1st Kentucky regiment was also prevented from par- 
 ticipating in the action of the 21st, but rendered highly 
 important services, under Colonel Ormsby, in covering 
 the mortar battery, and holding in check the enemy's 
 cavalry during the day. 
 
 I have noticed above, the officers whose conduct 
 either fell directly under my own immediate eye, or is 
 noticed only in minor reports which are not forwarded. 
 For further mention of individuals, I beg leave *o refer 
 
TAYLOR. 105 
 
 to the reports of division commanders herewith respect- 
 fully transmitted. I fully concur in their recommenda- 
 tions, and desire that they may be considered as a pari 
 of my own report. 
 
 From the officers of my personal staff and of the engi- 
 neers, topographical engineers, and ordnance, associated 
 with me, I have derived valuable and efficient assistance 
 during the operations. Colonel Whiting, assistant quar- 
 termaster-general, Colonels Croghan and Belknap, in- 
 spectors-general, Major Bliss, assistant adjutant-general, 
 Captain Sibley, assistant quartermaster, Captain Wag- 
 gaman, commissary of subsistence, Captain Eaton and 
 and Lieutenant Garnett, aids- de-camp, and Majors 
 Kirby and Van Buren, pay department, served near my 
 person, and were ever prompt, in all situations, in the 
 communication of my orders and instructions. I must 
 express my particular obligations to Brevet-Major Mans- 
 field and Lieutenant Scarritt, corps of engineers. They 
 both rendered most important services in reconniotring 
 the enemy's positions, conducting troops in attack, and 
 strengthening the works captured from the enemy. 
 Major Mansfield, though wounded on the 21st, remained 
 on duty during that and the following day, until con 
 fined by his wound to camp. Captain Williams, Topo- 
 graphical Engineers, to my great regret and the loss of 
 the service, was mortally wounded while fearlessly ex- 
 posing himself in the attack of the 21st. Lieutenant 
 Pope, of the same corps, was active and zealous 
 throughout the operations. Major Munroe, chief o[ the 
 artillery, Major Craig, and Captain Ramsey, of the ord- 
 nance, were assiduous in the performance of their 
 proper duties. The former superintended the mortar- 
 service on the 22d, as particular]}- mentioned in the 
 eport of General Worth, to which I also refer for the 
 
106 TAYLOR AM) HIS GENERALS. 
 
 services of the engineers and topographical officers de- 
 tached with the second division. 
 
 Surgeon Craig, medical director, was actively era- 
 ployed in the important duties of his department, and the 
 medical staff generally were unremitting in their atten- 
 tions to the numerous wounded — their duties with the 
 regular regiments being rendered uncommonly arduous 
 by the small number serving in the field. 
 
 I respectfully enclose herewith, in addition to the 
 reports of division commanders, a field return of the force 
 before Monterey on the 21st of September — a return of 
 killed, wounded, and missing during the operations — and 
 two topographical sketches — one exhibiting all the move- 
 ments around Monterey — the other on a larger scale, 
 illustrating more particularly the operations in the lower 
 quarter of the city — prepared respectively by Lieutenants 
 Mead and Pope, Topographical Engineers.* 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 Z. TAYLOR, 
 Major-General U. S. A., Commanding 
 The Adjutant-General of the Army, 
 Washington, D. C. 
 
 The operations of General Worth with his command 
 on the opposite side of the city are detailed in the fol- 
 lowing full report, from that able and distinguished 
 officer : — 
 
 GENERAL WORTH'S REPORT. 
 
 Head-Quarters 2d Division Army of Occupation, ) 
 Monterey, Mexico, September 28, 1846. » 
 Sir : I have the honour to report that, in obedience to 
 the verbal orders of the general-in-chief, the division 
 
 * The reports referred to in this despatch are superseded 
 by the particular details which the general gives in the des- 
 patch itself and are therefore omitted 
 
TAYLOR. 107 
 
 under my command, composed of Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Duncan's battery of horse artillery, artillery battalion, 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Childs, and eighth regiment, Captain 
 Scriver, constituting the first brigade, under Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Staniford ; Lieutenant Mackall's battery, horse 
 artillery, fifth infantry, (Major Scott ;) seventeenth, 
 (Captain Miles ;) and one company Louisiana volun- 
 teers, (Captain Blanchard ;) second brigade, under 
 Brigadier-General Persifor F. Smith, (colonel of rifles,) 
 and Colonel Hays's regiment of Texan mounted rifle- 
 men, moved from the main camp at El Bosque de St. 
 Domingo at two o'clock P. M. on the 20th. 
 
 My instructions were by a detour to the right, to 
 endeavour to find and reach the Saltillo road, effect a 
 thorough reconnoissance of the approaches to the city 
 from that direction, to cut off supplies and reinforce- 
 ments, and, if practicable, carry the heights. 
 
 Owing to the difficulties of the ground after leaving 
 the Marin, and before striking the Presquina Grande 
 road, the division had reached only six miles, in con 
 sequence of the delay in making the route practicable for 
 artillery, which service w r as performed by Captain 
 Sanders, at six o'clock P. M., and was halted just 
 without the range of a gun-battery on the summit of 
 an isolated hill called Loma de Lidependencla, midway 
 on the ascent of which was the Bishop's Palace. Thence 
 i reconnoissance was made, under cover of detach- 
 ments of Hays's Texans, to the intersection of the Pres- 
 quina Grande route, then in our possession, with the 
 Saltillo road. This examination resulted in the convic- 
 tion that the grounds in our front and on our left, in 
 advance, constituted at the same time the weak and 
 the , strong points of the enemy's position, and entered 
 .mainly into the defences of the city — the weak point, 
 
108 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 because commanding the only lines of retreat and of 
 supply in the direction of Saltillo, and controlling that 
 in the direction of Presquina Grande ; the strong point, 
 because of the peculiarly defensive character of the 
 hills and gorges, and of the very careful and skilful 
 manner with which they had been fortified and guarded. 
 It was also clearly indicated that our further advance 
 would be strenuously resisted. 
 
 On the morning of the 21st, the division was put in 
 motion, and with such formation as to present the 
 readiest order of battle, on any point of assault. At 
 six, the advance, consisting of Hays's Texans, sup- 
 ported by the light companies 1st brigade, under Cap- 
 tain C. F. Smith (both extended, as the valley widened 
 or contracted), closely followed by Duncan's light 
 artillery and battalion, heads of columns, on turning an 
 angle of the mountain at a hacienda called San Jero- 
 nimo, came upon a strong force of cavalry and infantry, 
 mostly the former. A conflict immediately ensued. 
 The Texans received the heavy charge of cavalry with 
 their unerring rifles and usual gallantry ; the light com- 
 panies opened a rapid and well directed fire ; Duncan's 
 battery was in action in one minute (promptly supported 
 by a section of Mackall's), delivering its fire over the 
 heads of our men. Ere the close of the combat, which 
 lasted but fifteen minutes, the first brigade had formed 
 to the front, on the right and left, and delivered its fire. 
 The second brigade was held in reserve, the ground not 
 admitting of its deployment. The enemy retired in 
 disorder (leaving on the ground 100 killed and wounded : 
 among the former, Don Juan N. Najua, colonel of the 
 permanent regiment of lancers) upon the Saltillo road, 
 and was closely pursued, until we got possession of the 
 gorge, where all the debouches from Monterey unite 
 
TAYLOR. 
 
 109 
 
 whereby the force just defeated, as also reinforcements 
 and supplies from that direction, were excluded from 
 entering the city. At this important point the divi- 
 sion was halted, and attention directed to the mountain 
 forts which envelope the city on its western and 
 south-western faces. Soon discovering, however, that 
 our position brought us within effective range of the 
 batteries, the troops were advanced some eight hundred 
 yards further on the Saltillo road. 
 
 The examination, thus far, had manifested, besides 
 the importance of the positions, the impracticability of 
 any effective operations against the city, until possessed 
 of the exterior forts and batteries. Independent, how- 
 ever, of ulterior objects, the occupation of these heights 
 became indispensable to the restoration of our lines of 
 communication with head-quarters, necessarily aban- 
 doned for the moment in order to secure the gorges of 
 the Saltillo road. At twelve M., a force was detached 
 under Captain C. F. Smith, with orders to storm the 
 batteries on the crest of the nearest hill, called Federa- 
 tion, and after taking that to carry the fort called Sol- 
 dada, on the ridge of the same height, retired about 
 600 yards. The two effectually guarded the slopes and 
 roads in either valley, and consequently the approaches 
 to the city. This command consisted of four companies 
 (K 2d, B 3d, and G and H 4th artillery,) of the artillery 
 battalion, and Green's, McGowan's, R. A. Gillespie's, 
 Chandler's, Ballone's, and McCulloch's companies of 
 Texan riflemen, under Major Chevalier, acting in co- 
 operation — in all about 300 effectives. It was impos- 
 sible to mask the movement of the storming party. On 
 approaching the base of the mountain, the guns of both 
 batteries opened a plunging fire, and numerous light 
 troops were seen descending and arranging themselves 
 
110 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 at favourable points on the slopes. Perceiving the 
 indications of determined resistance, Captain Miles was 
 detached from the 7th, to support and co-operate with 
 the first party. 
 
 In a short time the fire became general, the enemy 
 gradually yielding and retiring up the rugged acclivity, 
 and our men as steadily pursuing. The appearance of 
 heavy reinforcements on the summit, and the cardinal 
 importance of the operation demanding further support, 
 the 5th under Major Scott, and Blanchard's companies 
 of volunteers were immediately detached, accompanied 
 by Brigadier-General Smith, who was instructed to take 
 direction in that quarter. On reaching the advance 
 parties, General Smith discovered that under favour of 
 the ground, he could, by directing a portion of the force 
 to the right, and moving it obliquely up the hill, carry 
 the Soldada simultaneously with the Federacion. He 
 accordingly very judiciously pointed and accompanied 
 the 5th, 7th, and Blanchard's company in that direction. 
 Captain Smith's command having most gallantly carried 
 the first object of attack, promptly turned the captured 
 gun — a nine-pounder — upon the second, and moved 
 on with his main body to participate in the assault on 
 Soldada, which was carried in gallant style by the 
 forces under Scott, Miles, Blanchard, and Hays (who 
 had been detached on special service, but who returned 
 in time to share with fifty of his men in the first assault, 
 and to take a prominent part in the second), the whole 
 directed by General Smith. 
 
 At this point we secured another nine-pounder, and 
 immediately both pieces were brought to bear upon the 
 Bishop's Palace, situated upon and midway the southern 
 slope of the hill Independem-ia, a valley of only six 
 hundred yards intervening. We had now secured an 
 
TAYLOR. Ill 
 
 important advantage, and yet but half the work was done. 
 The possession of these heights only made the more 
 apparent the controlling importance of those opposite, 
 and the necessity of occupying the palace. A violent 
 storm ensued, and night closing in, operations for the 
 day ceased. The troops had now been thirty-six hours 
 without food and constantly tasked to the utmost physical 
 exertions. Such as could be permitted slept with arms 
 in hand, subjected to a pelting storm, and without 
 covering till three A. M., when they were aroused to 
 carry the hill Independencia. 
 
 Lieutenant-Colonel Childs was assigned to lead the 
 storming party, consisting of three companies, I and G, 
 (fourth), and A, (third artillery battalion ;) three compa- 
 nies 8th infantry, (A, B, and D, under Captain Scriven, 
 with two hundred Texan riflemen, under Colonel Hays 
 and Lieutenant-Colonel Walker (captain of rifles), act- 
 ing in co-operation. The command moved at three, 
 conducted to its point of ascent by Captain Sanders, 
 military, and Lieutenant Meade, topographical engineers. 
 Favoured by the weather, it reached by the dawn of day 
 within about one hundred yards of the crest, in which 
 position, among the clefts of rocks, a body of the enemy 
 had been stationed the previous evening in apparent 
 anticipation of the attack. The enemy's retreating fire 
 was ineffectual, and not returned until Colonels Childs 
 and Hays's command had reached to within a few yards 
 of the summit, when a well directed and destructive fire, 
 followed by the bayonet of the regulars and rush of the 
 Texans, placed us in possession of the work ; the cannon 
 having been previously withdrawn, no impression could 
 be made upon the massive walls of the palace or its 
 outworks, without artillery, except at enormous sacrifice. 
 
 Lieutenant Rowland, of Duncan's battery, was ordered 
 
112 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 from the main rank with a twelve-pound howitzer, and 
 in two hours (aided by fifty men from the line, under 
 Captain Sanders, military engineer, for the purpose of 
 selecting the route least difficult) that enterprising and 
 gallant officer had his guns in position, having ascended 
 an acclivity as rugged as steep, between seven and 
 eight hundred feet in two hours. A fire w T as immediately 
 opened from the howitzer, covered by the epaulement of 
 she captured battery, upon the palace and its outworks, 
 four hundred yards distant, and soon produced a visible 
 sensation. Meanwhile, to reinforce the position, the 
 fifth, Major Scott and Blanchard's volunteers, had been 
 passed from the first heights, and reached the second in 
 time to participate in the operations against the palace. 
 
 After many affairs of light troops and several feints, 
 a heavy sortie was made, sustained by a strong corps of 
 cavalry, w T ith desperate resolution, to repossess the 
 heights. Such a move had been anticipated and pre- 
 pared for. Lieutenant-Colonel Childs had advanced, 
 under cover, two companies of light troops under the 
 command of Captain Vinton, acting major, and judi- 
 ciously drawn up the main body of his command, 
 flanked on the right by Hays, and left by Walker \s 
 Texans. The enemy advanced boldly, was repulsed 
 by one general discharge from all arms, fled in confusion, 
 closely pressed by Childs and Hays, preceded by the 
 light troops under Vinton ; and while they fled past, our 
 troops entered the palace and fort. In a few moments 
 the unpretending flag of our union had replaced the 
 gaudy standard of Mexico. The captured guns — one 
 six-inch howitzer, one twelve, and two nine-pounder 
 brass guns, together with Duncan's and Mackall's field- 
 batteries, Which came up at a gallop, were in full and 
 effective play upon the retiring and confused masses 
 
TAYLOR. 113 
 
 that filled the street (of which we had the prolongation), 
 leading to the nearest plaza. La Capella, also crowded 
 with troops. At this moment the enemy's loss was 
 heavy. The investment was now complete. Except the 
 forces necessary to hold the positions on Independencia 
 and serve the guns (shifted to points where the shot 
 could be made to reach the great plaza), the division 
 was now concentrated around the palace, and prepara- 
 tion made to assault the city on the following day, or 
 sooner, should the general- in- chief either so direct, or, 
 before communication be had, renew the assault from 
 the opposite quarter. In the meantime attention was 
 directed to every provision our circumstances permitted, 
 to alleviate the condition of our wounded soldiers and 
 officers ; to the decent interment of the dead, not 
 omitting in either respect all that was due to those of the 
 enemy. 
 
 About ten A. M., on the 23d, a heavy fire was heard 
 m the opposite quarter. Its magnitude and contin- 
 uance, as well as other circumstances, did not permit 
 a doubt that the general w r as conducting a main attack ; 
 and that his orders for my co-operation (having to travel 
 a circuit of some six miles,) had miscarried or failed to 
 reach me, by means of the numerous cavalry of the 
 enemy. Under these convictions the troops were in- 
 stantly ordered to commence an operation, which, if 
 , not otherwise directed, I had designed to execute in 
 part, under favour of the night. Two columns of 
 attack were organized, to move along the two principal 
 streets, leading from our position, in direction of the 
 great plaza, composed of light troops slightly extended, 
 with orders to mask the men whenever practicable, 
 avoid those points swept by the enemy's artillery, to 
 press on to the first plaza, Capella, to get hold of the 
 
114 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 ends of streets beyond, then enter the buildings, and by 
 means of picks and bars break through the longitudinal 
 section of the walls, work from house to house, and 
 ascending the roofs, to place themselves on the same 
 breast height with the enemy. Light artillery by sec- 
 tions and pieces, under Duncan, Roland, Mackall, 
 Martin, Hays, Irons, Clarke, and Curd, followed at 
 suitable intervals, covered by reserves to guard the 
 pieces and the whole operation against the probable 
 enterprises of cavalry upon our left. This was effect- 
 ually done by seizing and commanding the head of 
 every cross street. The streets were, at different and 
 well-chosen points, barricaded by heavy masonry wails, 
 with embrasures for one or more guns, and in every 
 instance well supported by cross batteries. These 
 arrangements of defence gave to our operations at this 
 moment a complicated character, demanding much care 
 and precaution ; but the work went on steadily, simul- 
 taneously, and successfully. About the time our assault 
 commenced, the fire ceased from our force in the oppo- 
 site quarter. Disengaged on the one side, the enemy 
 was enabled to shift men and guns to our quarter, as 
 was soon manifested by accumulation of fire. At dark 
 we had worked through the walls and squares, and 
 reached to within one block of the great plaza, leaving 
 a covered way in our rear — carried a large building 
 which towered over the principal defences, and during 
 the night and ensuing morning, crowned its roof with 
 two howitzers and a six-pounder. All things were now 
 prepared to renew the assault at dawn of day, when a 
 flag was sent on, asking a momentary suspension of 
 fire, which led to the capitulation upon terms so honour 
 able to our arms. 
 
 As the columns of attack were moving from the palace 
 
TAYLOR. 115 
 
 hill, Major Munroe, chief of artillery, reached me with a 
 ten-inch mortar, which was immediately advanced 
 to the plaza, chapel, put in position masked by the 
 church wall, its bed adjusted as rapidly as possible, and 
 by sunset opened upon the great square. At this period, 
 our troops had worked to within one square of the plaza ; 
 the exact position of our comrades, on the opposite side, 
 was not known, and the distance of the position to be 
 assailed by the bomb battery, but conjecturing eight 
 hundred yards was assumed, and the fuze and charge 
 regulated accordingly ; the first shell fell a little short of 
 the point on which it was directed, and beside our 
 troops ; a slight increase of the projecting charge gave 
 exact results. The whole service was managed by 
 Major Munroe, most admirably, and, combined with 
 other operations, exercised a decided influence upon the 
 final results. Early on the morning of the 23d, Major 
 Brown's artillery battalion, was despatched with a select 
 command, and one section of Mackall's battery, under 
 Lieutenant Irons, to occupy the stone mill and adjacent 
 grounds, constituting, one league in advance, the narrow 
 gorge near St. Catarina. The major took possession, 
 repulsed the enemy's pickets, and was preparing his 
 command to resist any attack, when he received my 
 orders to retrace his steps, enter the city, and form the 
 main reserve to the assaulting columns. He came up in 
 good time and in good order, and was at once under fire. 
 On the 25th, in conformity to the articles of capitu- 
 lation, the citadel was taken possession of by a com- 
 mand consisting of two companies of each regiment, 
 and one section of each battery, 2d division. General 
 Smith was directed to take command of this corps, and 
 conduct the ceremony ; which duty he executed with 
 delicacy to the unhappy and humiliated fee. 
 
11C TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 You will receive lists of captured munitions of war, 
 lists of such as were surrendered having already been 
 ha*nded in. It is a source of high gratification that we 
 have been able to accomplish such fortunate results 
 with so moderate a sacrifice of gallant men. Annexed 
 is a return of killed and wounded, exhibiting dates, 
 actions, and circumstances. 
 
 When every officer and every soldier, regular and 
 volunteer, has, through a series of harrassing and severe 
 conflicts, in the valley and on the mountain, in the 
 street and on the house-top, cheerfully, bravely, and 
 successfully executed every service and complied with 
 every exaction of valor and patriotism, the task is as 
 difficult as delicate, to distinguish individuals ; and yet 
 it will always happen, as it has always happened in the 
 varied scenes of battle and siege, that fortune presents 
 to some those opportunities which all would have seized 
 with gladness and avidity. It is my pleasing and grate- 
 ful duty to present to the consideration of the general- 
 in- chief, and through him to the government, the dis- 
 tinguished conduct of Brigadier-General Smith, colonel 
 of rifles, Brevet Lieutenant-Colonel Childs, artillery 
 battalion, Colonel Hays, Texan riflemen, Brevet Cap- 
 tain C. F. Smith, 2d artillery, commanding light troops 
 first brigade. 
 
 My thanks are also especially due to Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Staniford,'8th, (commanding first brigade,) Major Mun- 
 roe, chief of artillery, (general staff;) Brevet- Major 
 Brown, Captain J. R. Vinton, artillery battalion ; Cap- 
 tain J. B. Scott, artillery battalion light troops ; Major 
 Scott, commanding, and Captain Merrill, 5th ; Captains 
 Miles, commanding, Holmes and Ross, 7th infantry, 
 and Captain Scriven, commanding Sth infantry ; to Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel Walker, (captain rifles,) Major Chevalier 
 
TAYLOR. 1 1 . 
 
 and Captain McCulloch, of the Texan, and Captain 
 Blanchard, Louisiana volunteers ; to Lieutenants 
 Mackall, (commanding battery,) Roland, Martin, Hays, 
 Irons, Clarke, and Curde, horse artillery ; Lieutenant 
 Longstreet, commanding light company, 8th ; Lieutenant 
 Ayres, artillery battalion, who was among the first in the 
 assault upon the Palace, and who secured the colours. 
 Each of the officers named, either headed special 
 detachments, columns of attack, storming parties, or 
 detached guns, and all was conspicuous for conduct and 
 courage. 
 
 My attention has been particularly directed by Gene- 
 ral Smith, to the gallant conduct of Lieutenant Gardner, 
 7th infantry, during the assault upon the city ; on which 
 occasion he threw himself in advance, and on the most 
 exposed points, animating his men by his brave exam- 
 ple. Particular attention has also been called to the 
 Leutenants Nicholls', (brothers) Louisiana volunteers, 
 as having highly distinguished themselves by personal 
 daring and efficient service. The officers of brigade 
 and regimental staff, were conspicuous in the field, or 
 in their particular departments. Lieutenants Hanson, 
 (commanding,) Vanhorn, aid- de-camp, 7th ; Lieutenant 
 Robison, 5th, (quartermaster's department,) on the staff 
 of General Smith ; Lieutenant and Adjutant Clark, 8th 
 infantry, staff 1st brigade ; Lieutenant Benjamin, adju- 
 tant artillery battalion — Peck, ordnance officer, artillery 
 battalion; G. Deas, adjutant 5th; and Page, adjutant 
 7th infantry, are highly commended by their respective 
 chiefs, to the justness of which I have the pleasure to 
 add my personal observation. In common with the 
 entire division, my particular thanks are tendered to 
 Assistant Surgeons, Porter, (senior,) Byrne, Conrad, 
 De Leon, and Roberts, (medical department,) who 
 
i 18 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 were ever at hand in the close fight, promptly admin- 
 istering to the wounded and suffering soldier. 
 
 To the officers of the staff, general and personal, 
 more especially associated with myself — Hon. Colonel 
 Balie Peyton, Louisiana troops, who did me the honour 
 to serve as aid-de-camp ; Captain Sanders, military 
 engineers ; Lieutenant Meade, topographical engineers ; 
 Lieutenants E. Deas, Daniels, and Ripley, quartermas- 
 ter's and commissary's staff; and Lieutenants Pemberton, 
 4th artillery, and Wood, 8th infantry, my aids-de-camp 
 — I have to express the greatest obligation. In such 
 diversified operations during the three days and nights, 
 they were constantly in motion, performing every exec- 
 utive duty, with zeal and intelligence only surpassed by 
 daring courage in conflict. I beg to commend each to 
 special consideration. 
 
 We have to lament the gallant Captains McKavett, 
 8th infantry, an officer of high merit, killed on the 21st r 
 and Gillespie, Texas volunteers, on the 22d. The 
 latter eminently distinguished himself while leading his 
 brave company at the storming of the first height, and 
 perished in seeking similar distinction on a second occa- 
 sion; Captain Gatlin and Lieutenant Potter, 7th, Lieu- 
 tenants Rossell, 5th, and Wainwright, 8th infantry, and 
 Lieutenant Reece, Texas riflemen, received honourable, 
 happily not mortal wounds. 
 
 The following non-commissioned officers are reported 
 as having highly distinguished themselves : Sergeants 
 Hazard, 4th, and Dilworth, 3d artillery; Quartermaster 
 Sergeant Henry, 7th infantry ; Cress, company C ; 
 Rounds, Bradford, (colour sergeants,) and Nogg, com- 
 pany E ; Bailey, company I, and Ballard, 7th infantry. 
 
 In the several conflicts with the division, the enemy's 
 
TAYLOR. „ 119 
 
 loss is ascertained to exceed four hundred and fifty men, 
 four nine-pounders, one twelve-pounder brass gun, one 
 twenty-four-pounder howitzer, and two national (gar- 
 rison) standards captured. 
 
 Very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 W. J. WORTH, 
 Brevet Brigadier- General ; commanding 2d division. 
 
 Major W. W. S. Bliss, j 
 
 Ass't Adj. Gen. Army of Occupation, j 
 
 The following series of letters in a journalized form 
 from Mr. Haile, a correspondent of the New Orleans 
 Picayune, who was present with General Worth's divi- 
 sion of the army, we have selected from an immense 
 mass of similar documents, as presenting the most lively, 
 graphic, and minute account of this splendid siege, 
 which has yet appeared. At the risk of some repetition 
 we give it complete. 
 
 San Francisco, Mexico, Sept. 18, 1846. 
 
 Gentlemen : We are, at length, within five hours 
 inarch of Monterey, say twelve miles distant. ***** 
 The habitual order of battle is to be as follows : — 
 " 1st division on the right, the 2d on the left, and the 
 volunteer division in the centre," the chiefs of divisions 
 to organize such reserves as they might judge proper. 
 This order of battle not to be considered invariable, but 
 to be controlled by the nature of the ground. Four 
 men from Gillespie's company were attached to each of 
 the two (2d and volunteer) divisions. 
 
 Everything connected with this day's march has been 
 intensely interesting to all, and novel to many. The 
 
120 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 troops marched in close columns, and were always held 
 in readiness to act promptly. The column, embracing 
 the trains, reached nearly or quite three miles. It was 
 a grand sight, and so much did the men feel interested 
 in coming events, that every one went at it in a business 
 manner, and, although it had been hot and dusty, not 
 half a dozen out of nearly six thousand five hundred 
 have given in to-day on the march. We have forded a 
 number of streams to-day, commencing near Marin, with 
 the San Juan, which was nearly waist deep. Of course, 
 we are now in the midst of the mountains, but so imper- 
 ceptibly have we ascended what appeared like moun- 
 tains, this morning, that we now seem to be on a great 
 plain, with mountains rising into peaks in every direc- 
 tion around us. Our road has been through a richer 
 region since leaving Marin, than any I have seen since 
 leaving the Rio Grande. We passed two or three large 
 haciendas, where sugar-cane is cultivated to a considera- 
 ble extent, and the second corn crops are in a flourish- 
 ing state. All these plantations are irrigated from the 
 mountain streams. 
 
 Well, to-morrow evening or next day morning, we 
 shall have seen the question decided, with regard to the 
 strength of Monterey. Information came into camp 
 from Monterey, last evening, which Mr. Kendall for- 
 warded to you. This evening the report is, that there 
 are 8000 (one report says 15,000) troops there, and that 
 the city is surrounded by a ditch and breastworks, and 
 the streets are all fortified. 
 
 How do the troops act on the eve of an expected bat 
 tie? Only that they are a little more precise in the per- 
 formance of their duties — a little more cartful in arrang- 
 ing their arms and knapsacks to be in readiness for an 
 instant's notice — and a little more careful to procure rest 
 
TAYLOR. 121 
 
 while they may — I see no change in their demeanour. 
 The only conversation is how they will probably go to 
 work to take the city, should resistance be offered. It 
 is the settled belief that the Mexicans will fight, and it 
 is also believed that many lives will be sacrificed on both 
 sides. I predict that, on their retreat, the army will be 
 awfully cut up. About twelve hundred Texan horse- 
 men are now with us, and they are desirous of paying 
 off old scores. In taking the town they cannot engage 
 very actively, but in overtaking the retreating troops they 
 will be active and destructive. 
 
 Nine o'clock, P. M. — The impression of those who 
 ought best to know, is still, that the troops at Monterey 
 will resist. Our troops will be greatly disappointed if 
 no resistance is offered them. They have come a long 
 distance to seek a fight. I was amused at a remark 
 made by Colonel Persifor F. Smith, when asked what he 
 thought of the probabilities of a battle. " I never knew 
 a man to seek perseveringly for a thing a long time, but 
 what he found it," replied he ; " and General Taylor will 
 not, I think, seek in vain for another set-to with the 
 Mexicans." One thing is certain, the enemy has been 
 at a heavy expense to fortify Monterey, and if we do 
 not find out before to-morrow night at this time, that 
 they do not intend to expend their money and labour for 
 nothing, I shall then be satisfied that there is no spirit 
 left among them. Two hundred Mexican troops left 
 this place this morning, after ill-treating and pillaging 
 the inhabitants as usual. But these people are singulai 
 beings, and very ungrateful. In Marin, where Torre- 
 jon's troops had, a day or two before, robbed, whipped, 
 and insulted the citizens, I saw a family selling muscat 
 to the Americans for two dollars a bottle, and at the 
 same time selling it to Mexicans at four bits per bottle 
 
122 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 We march to-morrow at six o'clock, to encamp three 
 miles from Monterey. 
 
 Camp before Monterey. ) 
 September 18, at 12 o'clock, 31. \ 
 
 Well, "the ball has opened!" When within four 
 miles of the city, we heard a brisk cannonading in that 
 direction. On arriving here we learn that General Tay- 
 lor, with a detachment of dragoons and the Texan 
 rangers, advanced within a few hundred yards of the 
 city, when the enemy opened upon them with twelve- 
 pounders. The first ball came within about ten yards 
 of the general. Some twenty-five or thirty shot were 
 fired at the dragoons and rangers, passing through their 
 lines, but hurting neither man nor horse. A picket of 
 260 Mexican cavalry appeared on the plain when our 
 advance first approached, and after firing a volley or two 
 with their escopettes, retired into the city. Bishop's 
 hill is strongly fortified, and they hard at work on a 
 height commanding that place. So to-night or early in 
 the morning we will probably have hot work. They 
 will fight, now, beyond a doubt. 
 
 Camp before Monterey, i 
 September 19, 1846. J 
 
 Gentlemen : This has been a day of excitement and 
 interest to our isolated little army. The general left the 
 camp at San Francisco this morning at sunrise, and by 
 eight o'clock the whole column was in motion, the 
 Texan rangers, and Colonel May with a squadron of 
 dragoons, in advance. The men started off briskly, and 
 the road was fine. After two hours' march a bridge was 
 found broken up by the Mexicans. A corn-field near 
 at hand afforded materials for filling up the place, and 
 the army proceeded over the first corn-stalk bridge I 
 
TAYLOR. 123 
 
 ever heard of. When within about four or five miles of 
 the city we heard a brisk cannonading. Some of the 
 men had just previous to this begun to lag, some suf- 
 fered from blistered feet, and others from the intensity of 
 the heat, but no sooner did the sound of cannon reach 
 their ears, than they straightened themselves up and 
 pressed forward with an eagerness which showed that 
 their sufferings were all forgotten. Captain Scott (the 
 veritable), or rather now Major Scott, who commands 
 the 5th infantry, marched immediately before us, and the 
 moment the brave old soldier heard the enemy's cannon, 
 he drove his spurs into his horse and pranced about his 
 regiment as if he would give a liberal portion of his life 
 to be at Monterey. 
 
 Captain Miles, commander of the 7th infantry, by 
 whose side I was riding at the moment, likewise rose in 
 his stirrups, with his keen black eyes sparkling, and his 
 nostrils slightly dilated, and gave orders to his regiment 
 to close up ; but his orders were useless, for the noble 
 fellows were already pressing upon the staff, to the very 
 rumps of the horses. Again, again and again, the noise 
 of the twelve-pounders reverberated through the lofty 
 mountains which rose before us and upon each side, and 
 a buzz, a suppressed hurra, ran through the line. The 
 officers ran their eyes over their commands with looks of 
 pride and confidence, and the men returned the glance, 
 as if to say "we are ready," and pressed on still more 
 eagerly. I rode out of the column and fell back to look 
 at the Louisiana boys. Every eye among them was 
 bright with eager excitement. Captain Blanchard, and 
 Lieutenants Tenbrink and the two brothers Nicholls, 
 wore a peculiar smile upon their countenances, an ex- 
 pression that I shall never forget. I translated its mean- 
 ing thus : " Now we are about to be rewarded for all 
 
124 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 sacrifices ana toils, and we will show old Louisiana that 
 we can represent her worthily, though our numbers are 
 small." They regretted the absence of their fellow-citi- 
 zens who had returned to their quiet homes, for they 
 well knew how many a brave heart would burn with 
 bitter disappointment and laudable envy, could their re- 
 turned friends but see them and know their feelings at 
 that moment. 
 
 On reaching the place of encampment, we came up 
 with General Worth, riding his horse in beautiful style. 
 A handsomer officer than he appeared then, I never saw 
 Every one marked the change that had suddenly come 
 over him. From the somewhat dejected air, and sad- 
 dened countenance that he is said to have worn of late, 
 Richard was now himself again — and the gallant soldier, 
 forgetting all his cares, now appeared before us, the per- 
 sonification of an accomplished military chieftain. His 
 handsome face was lighted up with a proud, but affable 
 smile, as he motioned gracefully to his officers, pointing 
 out to them the direction they were to take with their 
 respective commands, and not a man who saw him, but 
 what would at that moment have followed him to the 
 cannon's mouth. 
 
 Such is the feeling manifested by the whole army — 
 which renders this body of men invincible. 
 
 This evening the enemy's batteries have been opened 
 again upon a reconnoitering party of ours. Generals 
 Taylor, Worth, Twiggs, and others, have been out 
 looking at their works. 
 
 Nine o'clock, P. M. — An attack is expected, and every 
 man in the army will rest to-night on his arms. A night 
 attack is what a soldier dislikes very much, because it is 
 then difficult to distinguish friend from foe. 
 
 September 20th. — Everything remained quiet last night, 
 
TAYLOK. 125 
 
 To-morrow an attempt will be made to take Monterey. 
 A stout resistance is expected, for the town is strongly 
 fortified, as well as the heights that command it, and the 
 enemy has troops and ammunition enough there to de- 
 fend it. A movement will no doubt be made to-night. 
 No one expels an easy victory, on the other hand, all 
 have made up their minds to see much bloodshed. It 
 is believed that a large number of the enemy is in our 
 rear — in fact there is little doubt on the subject. 
 
 Bishop's Palace, ) 
 Monterey, Mexico, Sept. 24. ) 
 
 Gentlemen : This is the fourth day since the battle 
 of Monterey commenced. On the 20th at noon, Gene- 
 ral Worth marched from the camp east of the town in the 
 direction of the heights west of the town, McCullough's 
 and Gillespie's companies of rangers forming the recon- 
 noitering 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 was again in motion, 
 and in a few moments w r as turning the point of a ridge 
 which protruded out towards 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 in towards a gorge, but not 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 
 mountains which arise over us on the west. When the 
 head of the column approached this ridge, a body of 
 
1.26 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 Mexican cavalry came dashing around the point to charge 
 upon our advance. Captain Gillespie immediately 
 ordered his men to dismount and place themselves in 
 ambush. The enemy evidently did not perceive this 
 manoeuvre, but the moment they came up, the Texans 
 opened on them a most effective fire, uflsaddling a num- 
 ber of them. McCullough's company now dashed into 
 them — Captain C. F. Smith's camp, and Captain Scott's 
 camp of artillery, (acting as infantry,) and Lieutenant 
 Longstreet's company of the 8th 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 the enemy fell, and one Texan was killed 
 ■and two wounded. 
 
 Colonel Duncan now opened upon them with his 
 battery of light artillery, pouring a few discharges of 
 grape among them, and scattering them like chaff. 
 Several men and horses fell under this destructive fire. 
 1 saw one horse and rider bound some feet into the air, 
 and both fell dead and tumbled down the steep. The 
 foot companies 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 light batteries, one of which is commanded by 
 Lieutenant Mackall, were now driven up on the slope 
 of the ridge, and the howitzers opened upon the height 
 of Palace Hill. A few shells only were thrown before 
 
TAYLOR. J 27 
 
 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 positions, and a few more shells were thrown 
 towards Palace Hill, but did no execution. The nine- 
 pounder continued to throw its shot, with great pre- 
 cision, at our batteries, one ball falling directly in the 
 midst of the pieces, but fortunately hitting neither men 
 nor guns. Finding his batteries thus exposed, and 
 unable to effect anything, 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 regiments to form along the fence, 
 near the point of the ridge. The artillery battalion, 
 Oth, 7th, and 8th infantry, and the Louisiana volunteers, 
 remained in this position about two hours, directly under 
 the fire of the enemy's guns, (now two.) 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 officer. 
 
 At half-past ten the column moved towards the 
 general's position. At this time, Captain McKavett, 
 of the 8th infantry, was shot through the heart by a 
 nine-pound ball, and a private of the 5th infantry was 
 severely wounded 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 division deployed into the position 
 pointed out, and remained an hour or two, when Cap- 
 tain C. F. Smith of the artillery battalion, with two 
 companies (his own and Captain Scott's), and four com- 
 panies of Texas rangers on foot, were ordered to storm 
 
128 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 the second height. This the gallant officer cheerfully 
 undertook, and was followed with enthusiasm by the 
 officers and men of his command. It was considered 
 on all sides to be a dangerous undertaking, and his 
 party was considered most emphatically 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 was almost perpendicular and 
 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 
 marching directly to the foot of the height, arrived 
 before Captain 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, which 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 around the 
 foot of the height, which fell like a shower of hail in 
 their ranks, without killing a man. Lieutenant Gantt's 
 party were greeted with grape and round shot, which 
 cut the shrubs and tore up the loose stones in the ranks 
 without killing any one ; but the gallant young officer 
 came within an inch of being killed by a cannon-ball, 
 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 
 detachment continued to move up, driving the Mexicans 
 bark, until they were recalled. 
 
TAYLUK. 129 
 
 Captain Smith's party now arrived and moved up the 
 hill, the rangers in advance, and did not halt for an 
 instant until the Mexicans were driven from the summit. 
 Whilst this was going on, Colonel Persifor 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 ma- 
 kins: tremendous strides to be in with the foremost. 
 Captain Smith had the gun which he took upon the 
 height, run down towards the breastworks and fired into 
 it. Then came Colonel P. F. Smith's men, with a per- 
 fect rush, firing and cheering — the 5th and 7th, and 
 Louisianians reaching the ridge above nearly at the same 
 time. 
 
 The Mexicans fired at them with grape, but it did not 
 save them, or cause an instant's hesitation in our ranks. 
 Our men run, and fired, and cheered, until they reached 
 the work, the foremost entering at one end, whilst the 
 Mexicans, about 1000 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 entered the fort to- 
 gether, so close was the race — the 5th, however, getting 
 an advance, were in first. J. W. Miller, of Blanchard's 
 company, 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 was 
 thundering away at the Bishop's Palace ! 
 
130 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 More ammunition was found than our troops will use, 
 with the three guns which were captured. One of the 
 guns was found concealed. They are nine pound brass 
 pieces. Several mules and half a dozen beautiful tents 
 were likewise captured. Killed, none. Wounded, in 
 7th infantry, Lieutenant Potter, bullet through the calf 
 t>f the leg ; Orderly-Sergeant Hurdle, of Company K ; 
 Corporal S. P. Oakley, seriously, in the thigh. Corpo- 
 ral Oakley is from New York city, and a very intelligent, 
 well-educated man, as well as a good soldier. Private 
 White — the same who captured the Mexican officer's 
 trunk at Marin, and who received it and its contents 
 from General Taylor — wounded in the head. Fifth in- 
 fantry, killed, none ; wounded — Lieutenant Russell, in 
 the arm ; Sergeant Major Brand, badly, in the mouth, 
 with musket ball. Privates McManus and Grubb, 
 slightly wounded — Sergeant Uptergraph, colour-bearer, 
 distinguished himself by his gallantry. 
 
 Thus was this brilliant coup de main made almost 
 without bloodshed. I have not time to give the particu- 
 lars of this glorious affair. Captain C. F. Smith, was 
 in the advance, with M'Call, at the battle of Resaca de 
 la Palma, and is one of the most gallant and accom- 
 plished officers in the army — so say all his fellow officers 
 whom I have heard speak of him. Colonel P. F. 
 Smith — General Smith, of Louisiana — distinguished him- 
 self on that occasion, as did Major Scott and Captain 
 Miles, and, in truth, every officer and man did his duty 
 nobly. 
 
 The gallant conduct of Captain Blanehard and Lieu- 
 tenant Tenbrink, and the two brothers Nicholls, are 
 praised by all the officers who were there. In truth, 
 the Louisiana boys have fought every day for four days, 
 and T assure you, as General Worth's report will bear 
 
TAYLOR. 131 
 
 me out in saying, and as every officer in the 2d division 
 will testify, that this corps has distinguished itself on 
 every occasion where they have been called on. Tht 
 sons of Judge Nicholls, of Donaldsonville, have stood 
 fire four or five hours at a time, driving the enemy — 
 under their battery — from bush to bush, and rock to 
 rock, and at last were among the foremost to rush into 
 the Bishop's Palace and take it by storm. Captain 
 Blanchard and his company have already made a repu- 
 tation that will not soon be forgotten. S. G. Allen, pri- 
 vate of this company, was mortally wounded in this 
 fight, and died next morning. Captain Smith had no 
 one killed or wounded in his party of regulars — two 
 Texans were wounded, viz : William Carley and B. F. 
 Keese. H. 
 
 Bishop's Palace, Monterey, l 
 September 24, 1846. j 
 
 Gentlemen : I date both my letters on one day, be 
 cause I am obliged to foot up the news of the last four 
 days, having had no writing materials along. Even 
 now, though I write in a palace, I am obliged to hold 
 the sheet of paper in one hand on my knee, for want of 
 a desk. But I have no time for extra remarks — a 
 chance offers to send you the news, and I must hurry to 
 give you a glance at what has been done here, before the 
 express goes off. On the morning of the 21st, Colonel 
 Childs, of the artillery battalion, with three of his com- 
 panies — 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 Lieutenant 
 Wainright ; company B, Lieutenant Holloway com- 
 manding, and Lieutenant Merchant ; company D, Cay 
 
132 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 lain Scrivner 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 chapparal and up the 
 steep rocks, with such secrecy, that at daybreak he was 
 within one hundred yards of the breastwork of sand-bags 
 before he was discovered. Thffe of the artillerymen, 
 having rushed ahead too fast, found themselves in the 
 hands of the Mexicans. They surrendered : the Mexi- 
 cans took their muskets, and shot them down with the 
 very pieces they had given up. I saw the poor fellows 
 lying there. 
 
 I have but a few moments left to write in, and must 
 therefore defer the particulars of the storming of the 
 palace until I have more time. Colonel Staniford went 
 up at daylight with the balance of the 8th, and Major 
 Scott led up the 5th. The Louisiana boys were on the 
 hill with the 5th, at eight o'clock, A. M. One of Dun- 
 can's howitzers, in charge of Lieutenant Rowland, was 
 dragged up, or rather lifted up, and opened on the 
 palace, which was filled with troops. The Mexicans 
 charged on the howitzer, but were driven back. A con- 
 stant firing was kept up for several hours, particularly by 
 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 how- 
 itzer, 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. 
 
TAYLOR. 133 
 
 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 Wainwright was wound- 
 ed in the side and arm by a musket-ball, but will soon 
 recover, it is hoped. Mr. John Francis, of New Orleans, 
 belonging to Blanchard's company, was killed. Colonel 
 Childs, Captain Vinton, Captain Blanchard, Lieutenant 
 Longstreet, Lieutenant Clark (adjutant of the 8th), Lieu- 
 tenant Ayres, Lieutenant McCown, and the two Nicholls, 
 seem to have been the heroes of the day. The two latter 
 performed prodigies, and not only Judge Nicholls, 
 but old Louisiana may well be proud of such sons. The 
 Mexicans lost at least thirty killed — twenty-one had been 
 buried this morning, and I have seen a number lying on 
 the hill-side, that were not discovered by our men when 
 they brought in the dead. 
 
 Yesterday morning the whole division under General 
 Worth entered the town on this side, and have been 
 lighting there ever since. The heart of the city is no- 
 thing 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 front 
 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 Taylor last 
 evening, and it is now placed in the largest plaza, to 
 which our troops have fought step by step, and 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 strongholds that command the 
 city, and has pushed the enemy as far as they can go 
 without falling into General Taylor's hands on the other 
 
134 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 side of the city. All this has been done with the loss 
 of only about seventy killed and wounded. 
 
 The achievement is a glorious one — sufficient to sa- 
 tisfy the ambition of any man on earth. I was expect- 
 ing to see General Worth rushing his men into unne- 
 cessary danger, in order to win for them and himself 
 great military fame, but his conduct has been .very dif- 
 ferent from this. His great study has been to gain these 
 commanding points with the least possible sacrifice o( 
 life. At first it seemed totally impossible to storm these 
 heights — it looked like charging upon the clouds — but 
 it has been done. The Bishop's Palace, which is as 
 strong as it has been represented to be, has been stormed 
 and taken by our brave soldiers. I should have stated 
 that Colonel Hays, with a body of his troops, and Cap- 
 tains Gillespie and McCulloch, were at the taking of the 
 palace. Captain Gillespie was mortally wounded, and 
 died yesterday morning, regretted by the whole army. 
 
 I cannot keep up, at all, with the rangers. Their 
 services have been invaluable to General Taylor, from 
 the commencement of the campaign. They fight with 
 all the steadiness of old soldiers — and are constantly on 
 the move. The country owes them much for their 
 noble conduct. I say nothing, as yet, about General 
 Taylor's proceedings on the other side of the town, be- 
 cause the information I hove received is not well authen- 
 ticated. Mr. Kendall and I both came out with this 
 division, neither knowing that the other was coming 
 with it, until it was too late to return, and there is no 
 communication between the divisions except by armed 
 bodies of men. The general has, however, taken three 
 batteries near the town on the other side, in doing which 
 he has lost about three hundred men, killed and wounded . 
 I do not know the exact number killed, but will be able 
 
TAYLOR. 137 
 
 to ascertain before this letter goes — and will try to give 
 other particulars. 
 
 General Taylor has arrived at General Worth's head- 
 quarters to-day, and is now engaged in town with Am- 
 pu Jia's messengers considering the enemy's proposals for 
 sui rendering the town and the large fort at the north-east 
 side of it. That fort is very strong, and is believed to 
 contain at least twenty guns. Hostilities have ceased 
 until the conference shall be concluded. There must be 
 an immense quantity of property in town, particularly 
 arms and ammunition. 
 
 I should have mentioned that the 2d division marched 
 from camp with only two days' rations, and no tents. 
 A large majority of the officers, and many of the men, 
 worked and climbed mountains, chased the enemy, and 
 fought forty-eight hours, with nothing to eat but raw 
 corn. Much of the two days' rations were spoiled by 
 the rains, and as the troops were frequently ordered off 
 at an instant's notice, they left their haversacks behind. 
 
 There have been from ten to fifteen thousand troops 
 at this place ever since we have been here, but they are 
 leaking out, in citizen's clothes, as fast as they fin 
 dodge off. As soldiers, there is no escape for them. H 
 
 Monterey, Mexico, September 25, 184b 
 Gentlemen : The city has capitulated on the follow- 
 ing terms. (Terms stated page 142). Many persons, 
 particularly the Texan volunteers, who fought so bravely, 
 are displeased at these terms. The town was all but in our 
 hands, and, could they be believed, would have been taken 
 in three hours. I believe that it would have required 
 much more hard fighting to have taken it, but this was not 
 the question with General Taylor. He and his officers 
 knew perfectly well, of course, that the town could soon 
 
138 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 be taken, but he wanted no prisoners to take up bis time 
 and eat up his substance ; but he did have an object in 
 view which will be reached by the terms of this capitu- 
 lation, and that object in view will lead to a result most 
 beneficial to our government, under whose advice or 
 order General Taylor acted in agreeing to these terms. 
 As I have a few moments to spare before the express goes 
 out this morning (he was detained last night by the slow 
 progress of business with Ampudia), I will speak of the 
 operations of General Taylor on his side of the town. 
 
 Major Mansfield, of the Engineers, reeonnoitered the 
 enemy's works on the night of the 19th, but could obtain 
 no very accurate information, although he approached 
 very near to some of them on the heights. On the 20th, 
 Lieutenant Scarrit and Lieutenant Pope were sent out to 
 reconnoitre the works, Scarrit on the right and Pope on 
 the left of the town. The latter approached and dis- 
 covered the position of a battery on the extreme left, and 
 was exposed to a fire of cannon and musketry from 
 lancers, from which, after finishing his observations, he 
 retired in safety. On the night of the 20th, the mortar 
 and howitzer batteries were placed in a position to play 
 on the strongholds around the citadel. The action 
 commenced on the morning of the 21st, by the opening 
 of these two batteries. Colonel Garland's brigade were 
 ordered to move to the left for the purpose, of storming 
 the battery discovered by Lieutenant Pope the day before, 
 anil to occupy, if possible, the lower part of the city. 
 Major Mansfield, Captain William?, and Lieutenant Pope 
 were ordered in advance, to select the most available 
 point of attack, and to direct the movements of the 
 column upon it. Three companies were thrown forward 
 as skirmishers, and advanced rapidly towards the works, 
 followed by the brigade in line of battle, under a cross 
 
TAYLOR. 139 
 
 fire of artillery from the citadel and fort, and a heavy 
 fire of musketry. 
 
 The column charged into a street about two hundred 
 yards to the the right of the battery, passed the works 
 entirely, and effected an entrance into the tower. After 
 advancing rapidly about four hundred yards beyond the 
 battery, they came immediately in front of a masked 
 battery cf artillery and musketry, which swept the 
 street completely by its range. The barricades of the 
 streets at sixty yards distance from the head of the 
 column, were lined with Mexican troops, who, entirely 
 covering themselves, opened a murderous discharge of 
 grape and musketry upon the advancing column. Every 
 house in the street was pierced for musketry and 
 enfiladed the street In every direction. Under this fire 
 the following officers were killed or mortally wounded : 
 Major Barbour, 3d infantry, by grape-shot in the 
 abdomen : Captain Williams, Topographical Engineers, 
 shot through the body by a musket-ball, fell into the 
 street and was carried into the doorway of a house by 
 Lieutenant Pope, amidst a shower of balls that covered 
 him with dust. The gallantry of this young officer, 
 now in his first battle, is spoken of in admiration by the 
 army. Captain Williams died the next day, and was 
 buried with the honours of war by the Mexican troops, 
 into whose hands he had fallen. Lieutenant Merritt, 
 1st infantry, shot through the body, and died the next day. 
 
 Wounded. — Major Mansfield, ball through calf of the 
 leg. This brave officer would not leave on account of 
 his wound, but rode about, behaving in the most gallant 
 manner all day. Captain Bainbridge, 3d infantry, 
 slightly wounded in the hand. Major Lear, dangerously 
 wounded in the mouth, the ball passing out at the back 
 of his head. Major Abercrombie, 1st infantry, severelv 
 
140 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 wounded. Lieutenant R. Graham, 4th infantry, severely 
 wounded in both legs and body ; hopes are entertained 
 of his recovery. A great number of men killed and 
 wounded — number not known. 
 
 It being impossible, in the opinion of the engineer 
 officers, to effect anything in attacking the barricades in 
 front, the column moved rapidly up a street to the right, 
 with the intention of turning them. Being reinforced 
 by the Ohio regiment, a second charge was made, 
 under the direction of General Butler, which, owing to 
 the tremendous fire of musketry and grape from the 
 barricades and stone houses, likewise proved ineffectual. 
 The troops were then ordered by General Taylor to 
 retire in good order, and get under cover from the 
 enemy's fire, .which order was handsomely executed. 
 
 The following officers were killed or mortally wound- 
 ed (since died) in the second charge : Colonel Watson, 
 of the Baltimore battalion; Captain L. N, Morris, 3d 
 infantry; Lieutenant D. Irwin, 3d infantry; Lieutenant 
 R. Hazlitt, 4th infantry. [Three officers were killed 
 in the first charge which I did not include in that list, 
 viz : Lieutenant Hoskins, 3d infantry ; Lieutenant J. S. 
 Woods, 4th infantry ; Captain Field, 3d infantry* 
 
 Wounded. — Major-General Butler, slightly through 
 the calf of the leg; Colonel Mitchell, in the leg; Cap- 
 tain Lamotte, 1st infantry, slightly ; Lieutenant Dil- 
 worth, 1st infantry, leg shot off. 
 
 During the engagement in town, of Garland's brigade, 
 the forts that were passed ontheleft, in entering the town, 
 were gallantly carried by the Mississippi and Tennessee 
 regiments — the first commanded by Colonel Campbell, 
 and the second by Colonel Davis. Colonel McClung, of 
 the Mississippi regiment, was dangerously wounded. 
 These regiments sustained a great loss of killed and 
 
TAYLOR. 141 
 
 wounded, but I cannot, in the short time left me, ascer- 
 tain the names or the number of those who fell. Cap- 
 tain Bragg's battery of light artillery was brought into 
 action, but it being impossible to use it effectively, it 
 was withdrawn. Several pieces of artillery were cap- 
 
 rtured. The forts that were taken were" occupied by 
 Ridgely's light artillery company, who turned the 
 captured pieces against the Mexican works, and the 
 cannonade w r as kept up the rest of the day. — There 
 were many skirmishes, and gallant deeds, &c, &c, 
 which I will mention at a future time. 
 
 On the night of the 22d, the enemy abandoned the 
 two works which had proved so destructive to the 3d 
 and 4th infantry, and they were occupied early next 
 morning by the Mississippi and Tennessee regiments, 
 under General Quitman. About eight o'clock the same 
 morning, these two regiments advanced on the town, 
 and a sharp engagement commenced. These troops 
 w T ere supported by a body of Texan rangers (dismounted 
 for the occasion), under General Henderson, and by the 
 3d regiment of infantry. The fight was kept up until 
 four o'clock, P. M., during which time our troops drove 
 the enemy from house to house, almost to the main plaza. 
 The loss of life on our side was not severe during this 
 day. On the morning of the 24th, a flag of truce 
 w r as sent in, w r hich resulted in the capitulation of the 
 
 i town. 
 
 During the whole of the engagement on the 21st, 
 Colonel Kinney was exceedingly useful in carrying 
 orders, and in giving advice in matters with which his 
 thorough acquaintance with Mexican customs rendered 
 him familiar. He was in the tLLck^st of the fight, mov- 
 ing about from point to point, and doing good execution 
 with his rifle. This gentleman's services have been in- 
 
142 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 valuable to General Taylor in the movements of the 
 army from Matamoras to this place. He has been every- 
 where reconnoitering the country, and procuring infor- 
 mation — riding day and night, and exposing his life in a 
 thousand ways. The colonel never flinched from any 
 duty required of him, and, had General Taylor ordered 
 him to go and bring him Ampudia's portfolio, he would 
 have undertaken it. I devote a paragraph to a mention 
 of this gentleman's service, because he deserves much 
 from the public, for whom he has laHuretl so arduously 
 and so efficiently. H. 
 
 Terms of capitulation of the city f Monterey, the 
 capital of Nvevo Leon, agreed upon by the undersigned 
 commissioners, to wit: General Worth, of the United 
 States army, General Henderson, of the Texan volun- 
 teers, and Colonel Davis, of the Mississippi riflemen, on 
 the part of Major-General Taylor, Commander-in-chief 
 of the United States forces, and General Requena and 
 General M. Llano, Governor of Nuevo Leon, on the 
 part of Senor General Don Pedro Ampudia, command- 
 ing in chief the army of the north of Mexico. 
 
 Article I. As the legitimate result of the operations 
 before this place, and the present position of the con- 
 tending armies, it is agreed that the city, the fortifica- 
 tions, cannon, the munitions of war, and all other public 
 property, with the undermentioned exceptions, be sur- 
 rendered to the commanding general of the United 
 States forces now at Monterey. 
 
 Article II. That the Mexican forces be allowed to 
 retain the following arms, to wit : the commissioned 
 officers their side-arms, the infantry their arms and 
 accoutrements, the cavalry their arms and accoutrements, 
 the artillery one field battery, not to exceed six pieces, 
 with twenty-one rounds of cimmunition. 
 
 Article III. That the Mexican armed forces retire, 
 within seven days from this date, beyond the line formed 
 
TAYLOR. 143 
 
 by the pass of Rinconada, the city of Linares and San 
 Fernando de Preras. 
 
 Article IV. That the citadel of Monterey be evacu- 
 ated by the Mexican and occupied by the American 
 forces to-morrow morning at ten o'clock. 
 
 Article V. To avoid collisions, and for mutual 
 convenience, that the troops of the United States will 
 not occupy the city until the Mexican forces have with- 
 drawn, except for hospital and storage purposes. 
 
 Article VI. That the forces of the United States 
 will not advance beyond the 'line specified in the 3d 
 article, before the expiration of eight weeks, or until 
 orders or instructions of the respective governments can 
 be received. 
 
 Article VII. That the public property to be deli- 
 vered, shall be turned over and received by officers 
 appointed by the commanding generals of the two armies. 
 
 Article VIII. That all doubts as to the meaning 
 of any of the preceding articles, shall be solved by an 
 equitable construction, or on principles of liberality to 
 the retiring army. 
 
 Article IX. That the Mexican flag, when struck 
 at the citadel, may be saluted by its own battery. 
 
 Done at Monterey, Sept. 24, 1846. 
 
 W. J. WORTH, 
 
 Brigadier-General United States Army. 
 J. PINKNEY HENDERSON, 
 Major-General commanding the Texan Volunteers. 
 JEFFERSON DAVIS, 
 
 Colonel Mississippi Riflemen. 
 MANUEL L. LLANO, 
 T. REQUENA, 
 ORTEGA. 
 
 Approved, 
 
 Z. TAYLOR, 
 
 Major-General United States Army, commanding. 
 PEDRO AMPUDIA. 
 
CHAPTER VII. 
 
 The battle of Buena Vista. 
 
 Monterey now became the head- quarters of General 
 Taylor. It is an old city, built by the Spaniards nearly 
 three centuries since. It is nearly two miles long and 
 one mile wide, with streets running parallel, and crossed 
 by others running at right angles. The city contains 
 three plazas or large squares. Upon the main one of 
 these stands the principal cathedral ; this building, du- 
 ring the time of the attack, was used by the enemy as a 
 depository for gunpowder. 
 
 The houses are of one story, and are built in the old 
 Spanish style, with walls of strong mason-work thirty 
 inches in thickness, rising three or four feet above the 
 roof. These walls, rising in the manner they do, afforded 
 the Mexicans a powerful means of defence. The city, 
 standing as it does at the gorge of the most romantic 
 upheaved mountains in the world, commands the only 
 passes to the interior and its capital. Through the city, 
 and winding round it, is a branch of the river St. Juan, 
 adding great beauty to the spot, and yielding to the solid 
 comfort of the inhabitants. 
 
 After establishing his head-quarters in this place, 
 General Taylor detached Brigadier-General Worth with 
 1200 men and eight pieces of artillery to Saltillo 
 Brigadier-General Wool and the column under his 
 command, 2400 strong, with six pieces of artillery, were 
 ordered to occupy the town of Parras, a small but beau- 
 
TAYLOR. 145 
 
 tiful place seventy miles north-east of Saltillo. Saltillo, 
 to which Worth was ordered, is about seventy miles 
 fiom Monterey, and at an elevation of about 2000 feet 
 above the latter place. General Patterson having been 
 withdrawn on an expedition to act in conjunction with 
 the fleet in the Gulf, General Butler was ordered to take 
 the command of the reserve. Saltillo and Parras were 
 occupied by the Americans without any opposition, the 
 enemy having fallen back as far as San Luis Potosi. 
 
 The fleet in the Gulf had as yet taken no active part 
 m the war, except capturing Tampico, and blockading 
 Vera Cruz and the various ports lying on the Gulf; thus 
 preventing any communication, and cutting off all 
 sources of supplies in that quarter. 
 
 Santa Anna had now been recalled to Mexico, and 
 placed at the head of affairs, and Paredes deposed. 
 Santa Anna was nominally commander-in-chief of the 
 Mexican armies, really dictator. He was raising a for- 
 midable army to resist the further advance of General 
 Taylor. Before December, he had succeeded in raising 
 20,000 men, and concentrating them at San Luis Potosi, 
 which he strongly fortified, and filled with military stores. 
 
 After awaiting the advance of this formidable force for 
 some time, General Taylor determined to meet them on 
 their own ground. He began to prepare for a movement 
 towards Victoria. The following despatch refers to his 
 operations at this time : 
 
 Head-Quarters Army of Occupation, j 
 Camp near Monterey, Dec. 8, 1846. j 
 
 Sir : As I expect to march in a few days for Victoria, 
 I consider the present a proper occasion to explain some- 
 what in detail the dispositions which have been made, 
 and which are contemplated, for the occupation and de- 
 
146 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 fence of this frontier. With this view I enclose a sketch 
 exhibiting the line from Parras to Tarnpico, and showing 
 how a portion of that line is naturally marked by the 
 chain of the " Sierra Madre." 
 
 It will be seen at once that San Luis Potosi is a 
 position almost equally distant from the points of this 
 line. This would give the force at San Luis a very 
 great advantage over us, were it not for the nature of 
 the country and the communications ; the regions between 
 San Luis and the mountains being scantily supplied with 
 water and subsistence, and the road by Saltillo and 
 Monterey being the only practicable route for artillery 
 across the mountains. Without artillery, the Mexican 
 troops are not at all formidable, and, I think, have but 
 little confidence in themselves. I therefore consider the 
 position of Saltillo and Parras as of prime importance. 
 With an intermediate post at Patos, and the means, by a 
 good road, of rapidly uniting, if necessary, I deem the 
 columns of Brigadier-Generals Wool and Worth quite 
 equal to hold that flank of the line. I shall, however, 
 reinforce the latter general, particularly in cavalry, and 
 shall establish a reserve at this place to support the 
 advanced positions, should the movements of the enemy 
 require it. 
 
 Brigadier-General Wool is understood to be now at 
 Parras with his column, say 2400 strong, with six guns. 
 Brigadier-General Worth has his head-quarters at Saltillo 
 — his command consisting of some 1200 regular troops, 
 with eight guns. I propose to reinforce him by two 
 regiments of volunteer foot, and a portion of the Ken- 
 tucky cavalry. Lieutenant Kearney's company is all 
 the regular cavalry force I can assign him at present. 
 
 At. Monterey will be the head-quarters of Major- 
 General Butler, commanding the reserve. Two com 
 
TAYLOR. 147 
 
 panies of artillery and one of the weak infantry bat- 
 talions (4th) will compose the garrison of the place. 
 The troops of General Butler's proper division (Ohio, 
 Indiana, and Kentucky), will be at this point, and in 
 echelon on the route hence to Camargo and the mouth 
 of the Rio Grande, except those which may be ordered 
 to reinforce General Worth, as above indicated. 
 
 Tampico is now garrisoned by eight strong companies 
 of artillery, and the Alabama regiment of volunteers, say 
 1000 effectives. I consider this force quite sufficient 
 to hold the place, controlling, as we do, the harbour. 
 * * * These considerations attracted my attention 
 to Victoria before the surrender of Tampico, but I now 
 deem it more than ever important, for I have reason to 
 believe that a corps of observation is in that quarter, 
 under the orders of General Urrea, having his head- 
 quarters perhaps at Tula, and sending forward advanced 
 parties as far as Victoria. 
 
 * * * Major- General Patterson has accordingly 
 been instructed to march from Matamoras on Victoria, 
 with three regiments of volunteers from his division, one 
 being the Tennessee horse. I propose to move from 
 this point, say by the 12th instant, with the regular 
 troops now here, under Brigadier-General Twiggs (ex- 
 cept those to be left in garrison, as above), and the regi- 
 ments of General Patterson's division, under Brigadier- 
 General Quitman. At Montemorelos, sixty-eight miles 
 from this, I shall effect a junction with Riley, who is 
 now there, and incorporate with the column the 2d Ten- 
 nessee regiment, under orders for that place. With 
 this augmented force I expect to effect a junction with 
 Major-General Patterson before Victoria. 
 
 You will perceive that one effect of the arrangements 
 above indicated will be to throw Major-General Patter- 
 
148 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 son, with the troops of his appropriate division (Ten- 
 nessee, Illinois, Mississippi, Alabama, and Georgia), on 
 the left and near the coast, while Major-General Butler, 
 with his division, occupies the line of communication 
 from the Rio Grande to Saltillo. 
 
 Intelligence received this moment from Saltillo, repre- 
 sents all quiet in front. We have reports of a revolution 
 in Mexico, embracing two or three states, and directed 
 against General Santa Anna, but the information does 
 not come in an authentic form. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 Z. TAYLOR, 
 Major-General U. S. A., Commanding 
 The Adjutant-General of the Army, ) 
 Washington, D. C. ) 
 
 General Taylor started for Victoria on the 15th of 
 December, and on the 17th joined the second regiment 
 of infantry and the second Tennessee regiment of foot 
 from Camargo. On arriving at Montemorelos, he re- 
 ceived intelligence from General Worth, commanding at 
 Saltillo, that he was hourly expecting an attack on that 
 place by Santa Anna. Sending forward General Quit- 
 man with a field battery to meet General Patterson at 
 Victoria, General Taylor now fell back on Monterey, 
 and on the 20th advanced towards Saltillo with General 
 Twiggs's division. But on his way he received fresh 
 advices, informing him of the arrival of General Wool 
 with a reinforcement at Saltillo, and that the enemy 
 were withdrawing towards San Luis Potosi. 
 
 In consequence of this change of circumstances Gene- 
 ral Taylor set out for Victoria, where he arrived on the 
 30th of December. 
 
 General Taylor was now superseded in the command 
 
TAYLOR. 149 
 
 of the Array of Occupation, by Major- General Win- 
 field Scott, who was appointed commander-in-chief of 
 all the land forces in Mexico, and at the various posts 
 on the Rio Grande. 
 
 The theatre of Scott's operations was different from 
 that of Taylor's. His main object was the reduction of 
 the city of Vera Cruz, and the fort of St. Juan de Ulloa, 
 by a combined land and sea force. Vera Cruz being the 
 key of the main road to the capital, General Scott thought 
 that its reduction would compel the Mexicans to sue for 
 peace. To effect this object it became necessary for him 
 to draw from General Taylor the main body of his 
 regular forces: to apprise Taylor of this fact he ad- 
 dressed him the following letter, which was written pre 
 vious to his setting out for the seat of war. 
 
 New York, Nov. 25, 1846 
 My dear General : I left Washington late in the 
 day yesterday, and expect to embark for New Orleans 
 the 30th inst. By the 12th of December I may be in 
 that city, at Point Isabel the 17th, and Camargo, say the 
 23d — in order to be within easy corresponding distance 
 from you. It is not probable that I may be able to visit 
 Monterey, and circumstances may prevent your coming 
 to me. I shall much regret not having an early oppor- 
 tunity of felicitating you in person upon your many bril- 
 liant achievements ; but we may meet somewhere in the 
 interior of Mexico. 
 
 I am not coming, my dear general, to supersede you 
 in the immediate command on the line of operations 
 rendered illustrious by you and your gallant army. My 
 proposed theatre is different. You may imagine it ; and 
 wish very much that it were prudent, at this distance, 
 to tell you all that I expect to attempt or hope to exe 
 
150 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 cute. I have been admonished that despatches have 
 been lost, and I have no special messenger at hand. 
 Your imagination will be aided by the letters of the 
 secretary of war, conveyed by Mr. Armistead, Major 
 Graham, and Mr. M'Lane. 
 
 But, my dear general, I shall be obliged to take from 
 you most of the gallant officers and men (regulars and 
 volunteers) whom you have so long and so nobly com- 
 manded. I am afraid that I shall, by imperious neces- 
 sity — the approach of yellow fever on the gulf coast — 
 reduce you, for a time, to stand on the defensive. This 
 will be infinitely painful to you, and, for that reason r 
 distressing to me. But J rely upon your patriotism to 
 submit to the temporary sacrifice with cheerfulness. No 
 man can better afford to do so. Recent victories place 
 you on that high eminence ; and I even flatter myself 
 that any benefit that may result to me, personally, from 
 the unequal division of troops alluded to, will lessen the 
 pain of your consequent inactivity. 
 
 You will be aware of the recent call for nine regi- 
 ments of new volunteers, including one of Texas horse. 
 The president may soon ask for many more ; and we 
 are not without hope that Congress may add ten or 
 twelve to the regular establishment. These, by the 
 spring, say April, may, by the aid of large bounties, be 
 in the field — should Mexico not earlier propose terms 
 of accommodation; and, long before the spring (March), 
 it is probable you will be again in force to resume offen- 
 sive operations. 
 
 It was not possible for me to find time to write from 
 Washington, as I much desired. I only received an 
 intimation to hold myself in preparation for Mexico, on 
 the 18th instant. Much has been done towards that 
 end, and more remains to be executed. 
 
TAYLOR. 151 
 
 Your detailed report of the operations at Monterey, 
 and reply to the secretary's despatch, by Lieutenant 
 Armistead, were both received two days after I was 
 instructed to proceed south. 
 
 In haste, I remain, my dear general, yours, faithfully, 
 WINFIELD SCOTT. 
 Major-General Z. Taylor, ) 
 
 U. S. Army, commanding, &c. ) 
 
 Not only were nearly all the regular troops now with- 
 drawn from General Taylor; but his noble coadjutor 
 General Worth was detached and ordered to march at 
 the head of them from his post at Saltillo towards Vera 
 Cruz, while Taylor was ordered to fall back on Monterey 
 and await the arrival of fresh recruits, volunteers who 
 were destined to take the place of the veteran warriors 
 of Palo Alto, Resaca de la Palma, and Monterey. His 
 address to these veterans is characteristic : 
 
 " It is with deep sensibility that the commanding 
 general finds himself separated from the troops he so 
 long commanded. To those corps, regular and volun- 
 teer, who had 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 its arms." 
 
 On reaching Monterey his regular force was 600, in- 
 cluding May's dragoons. In February he had received 
 reinforcements raising his army to nearly 6000 men. 
 
 Anticipating an attempt on the part of Santa Anna, 
 an attempt to possess himself of the line of posts be 
 10 
 
152 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 tween himself and Mataraoras, he determined to advance 
 and fight a pitched battle with him. Accordingly, on 
 the 20th of February, we find him encamped at Agua 
 Nueva, eighteen miles south of Saltillo, and sending out 
 videttes, who return with intelligence that Santa Anna 
 is within thirty miles of his position, rapidly advancing 
 with some 20,000 men against his forlorn hope of five 
 thousand four hundred. 
 
 On receiving this intelligence, General Taylor de- 
 termined to choose his own battle ground, and accord, 
 ingly fell back to an admirable position in front of Buena 
 Vista, seven miles south of Saltillo. The following de- 
 tailed report of the great commander himself gives the 
 best general view of the battle which has appeared. 
 
 Head-Quarters Army of Occupation, j 
 Agua Nueva, March 6, 1847. ) 
 
 Sir: I have the honour to submit a detailed report 
 of the operations of the forces under my command 
 which resulted in the engagement of Buena Vista, the 
 repulse of the Mexican army, and the reoccupation of 
 this position. 
 
 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 McCullough, 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 
 McCullough made another examination of Encarnacion. 
 
TAYLOR. 1 53 
 
 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 supe- 
 rior to our own, particularly in the arm of cavalry, I 
 determined, after much consideration, to take up a posi- 
 tion 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 proceeded to Saltillo, to make some necessary 
 arrangements for the defence of the town, leaving Brig- 
 adier-General Wool in the immediate command of the 
 troops. 
 
 Before those arrangements were completed, on the 
 morning of the 22d, I was advised that the enemy was 
 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 
 11 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, occupying 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 system of deep and impas- 
 sable gullies, while on the left a succession of rugged 
 ridges and precipitous ravines extends far back toward 
 the mountain which bounds the valley. The featured oi 
 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 Wash- 
 
154 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 ington's battery (4th artillery) 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 volunteers), and the 2d Kentucky, under Col- 
 onel McKee, occupied the crests of the ridges on the left 
 and in rear. The Arkansas and Kentucky, regiments of 
 cavalry, commanded by Colonels Yell and H. Marshall, 
 occupied the extreme left near the base of the mountain, 
 while the Indiana brigade, under Brigadier-General 
 Lane (composed of the 2d and 3d regiments, under 
 Colonels Bowles and Lane), the Mississippi riflemen, 
 under Colonel Davis, 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 artillery, were held in reserve. 
 
 At eleven o'clock I received from General Santa Anna 
 a summons to surrender at discretion, which, with a copy 
 of my reply, I have already transmitted. The enemy 
 still forbore his attack, evidently waiting for the arrival 
 of his rear columns, which could be distinctly seen by our 
 look-outs as they approached the field. A demonstra- 
 tion made on his left caused me tcrdetach the 2d Ken- 
 tucky regiment and a section of artillery to our right, in 
 which position they bivouacked for the night. In the 
 meantime 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 Indiana" 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 occa 
 
TAYLOR. 155 
 
 sional shell was thrown by the enemy into this part of 
 our line, but without eifect. The skirmishing of the 
 light troops was kept up with trifling loss on our part 
 until dark, when I became convinced that no serious 
 attack would be made before the morning, and returned, 
 with the Mississippi regiment and squadron of 2d dra- 
 goons, to Saltillo. The troops bivouacked without fires, 
 and laid upon their arms. A body of cavalry, some 
 1500 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 retreat, and perhaps make some at- 
 tempt against the town if practicable. The city was 
 occupied by four excellent companies of Illinois volun- 
 teers, under Major Warren of the 1st regiment. A field- 
 work, which commanded most of the approaches, was 
 garrisoned by Captain Webster's company, 1st artillery, 
 and armed with two 24-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. Hav- 
 ing 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 re 
 inforced by three companies under Major Trail, 2d Illi- 
 nois volunteers, maintained their ground handsomely 
 against a greatly superior force, holding themselves 
 
156 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS 
 
 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 well-directed shots from Captain Washington's 
 battery. In the mean time the enemy was concentrating 
 a large force of infantry and cavalry under cover of the 
 ridges, with the obvious intention of forcing our left, 
 which was posted on an extensive plateau. The 2d In- 
 diana 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 immediate command. In order to 
 bring his men within effective range, General Lane or- 
 dered the artillery and 2d Indiana regiment forward. 
 The artillery advanced within musket range of a heavy- 
 body of Mexican infantry, 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 left. 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 cannoneers of the third piece being killed or 
 disabled. The 2d Indiana regiment, which had fallen 
 back as stated, could not be rallied, and took no farther 
 part in the action, except a handful of men, who, under 
 its gallant colonel, Bowles, joined the Mississippi regi- 
 ment, 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 over- 
 
TAYLOR. 157 
 
 whelming force against our left flank, the light troops 
 which had rendered such good service on the mountain 
 were compelled 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 defence of which they afterward contributed. 
 
 Colonel Bissell'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 infantry and cavalry along 
 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 previously been ordered from the right to reinforce 
 cur left, and arrived at a most opportune moment. 
 That regiment, and a portion of the 1st Illinois, under 
 Colonel Harden, gallantry drove the enemy, and re- 
 covered 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 particularly upon the masses which 
 had gained our rear. Discovering that the enemy was 
 heavily pressing upon the Mississippi regiment, the 3d 
 Indiana regiment, under 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 
 
158 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 time warmly sustained at that point — the enemy making 
 several efforts both with infantry and cavalry against 
 our line, and being always repulsed with heavy loss. 1 
 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 mountain, which was done in con- 
 junction with 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 
 concentration of artillery fire upon the masses of the 
 enemy along the base of the mountain, and the deter- 
 mined 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 
 accomplish the object, being exposed to a heavy fire 
 from a battery established to cover the retreat of those 
 corps. While the squadron was detached on this service, 
 a 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 our 
 train and 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 tii. :attered forces near 
 
TAYLOR. 159 
 
 the hacienda, composed in part of Majors Trail and Gor- 
 man's commands, had been to some extent organized under 
 the advice of Major Monroe, chief of artillery, 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 Lieu- 
 tenant Reynolds's 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 Ken- 
 tucky cavalry — a young officer of much promise. Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel May, who had been rejoined by the squad- 
 ron 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. 
 
 The position of that portion of the Mexican army 
 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 Ge- 
 neral Wool could not cause the enemy to cease their fire, 
 and accordingly returned without having an interview. 
 
160 TAYLOR AND HIS 6ENUBALS. 
 
 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 re- 
 doubt occupied by his company, and then moved off 
 towards the eastern side of the valley, and obliquely 
 towards Buena Vista. At this time, Captain Shover 
 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 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 position, 
 I discovered that our infantry (Illinois and 2d Kentucky) 
 had engaged a greatly superior force of the enemy — evi 
 dently his reserve — and that they had been overwhelmed 
 by numbers. The moment was most critical. Captain 
 O'Brien, with two pieces, had sustained this heavy charge 
 
TAYLOR. 161 
 
 to the last, and was finally obliged to leave his guns on 
 the field — his infantry support being entirely routed 
 Captain Bragg, who had just arrived from the left, was 
 ordered at once into battery. 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 canister caused the enemy 
 to hesitate, the second and third drove him back in dis- 
 order, and laved the day. The 2d Kentucky regiment, 
 which had advanced beyond supporting distance in this 
 affair, was driven back and closely pressed by the ene- 
 my's cavalry. Taking a ravine which led in the direc- 
 tion 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 Mississippi and 3d Indiana regiments, the former 
 of which had reached the ground in time to pour a fire 
 into the 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, 1 st Illinois, 
 and Colonel McKee and Lieutenant-Colonel Clay, 2d 
 Kentucky regiment, fell at this time while gallantly lead- 
 ing 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 inces- 
 sant 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 
 
162 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 the enemy, should he again attack our position. Seven 
 fresh companies were drawn from the town, and Briga- 
 dier-General Marshall, with a reinforcement 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 pursuit. A staff officer was des- 
 patched 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. 
 
 On the evening of the 26th, a close reconnoissance 
 was made of the enemy's position, which was 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 con- 
 siderable number of wounded. It was my purpose to 
 beat up his quarters at Encarnacion early the next morn- 
 ing, but upon examination, the weak condition of the 
 cavalry horses rendered it unadvisable to attempt so long 
 a march without water. A command was finally dis- 
 patched 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 
 
TAYLOR. 163 
 
 nunger. The dead and dying were strewed upon the 
 road and crowded the buildings of the hacienda. 
 
 The American force engaged in the action of Buena 
 Vista is shown, by the accompanying field report, to have 
 been 33 1 officers, and 4425 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 453 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 
 20,000 ; and that estimate is confirmed by all the in- 
 formation since obtained. Our loss is 267 killed, 456 
 wounded, and 23 missing. Of the numerous wounded, 
 many did not require removal to the hospital, and it is 
 hoped that a comparatively small number will be perma- 
 nently disabled. The Mexican loss in killed and wounded 
 may be fairly estimated at 1500, and will probably reach 
 2000. At least 500 of their killed were left uuon 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. 
 
 Our loss has been especially severe in officers, twenty- 
 eight having been killed upon the field. We have to 
 lament the death of Captain George Lincoln, Assistant 
 Adjutant-General, serving in the staff of General Wool 
 — a young officer of high bearing and approved gallantry, 
 who fell early in the action. No loss falls more heavily 
 upon the army in the field than that of Colonels Hardin 
 and McKee, and Lieutenant-Colonel Clay. Possessing 
 in a remarkable degree the confidence of their commands, 
 and the last two having enjoyed the advantage of a 
 military education, I had looked particularly to them for 
 support in case we met the enemy. I need not say that 
 their zeal in engaging the enemy, and the cool and 
 
164 
 
 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 steadfast courage with which they maintained their po- 
 sitions during the day, fully realized my hopes, and 
 caused me to feel yet more sensibly their untimely loss. 
 
 I perform a grateful duty in bringing to the notice of 
 the government the general good conduct of the troops. 
 Exposed for successive nights, without fires, to the se- 
 verity of the weather, they were ever prompt and cheer- 
 ful in the discharge of every duty ; and finally displayed 
 conspicuous steadiness and gallantry in repulsing, at 
 great odds, a disciplined foe. While the brilliant success 
 achieved by their arms releases me from the painful 
 necessity of specifying many cases of bad conduct 
 before the enemy, I feel an increased obligation to men- 
 tion particular corps and officers, whose skill, coolness, 
 and gallantry in trying situations, and under a continued 
 and heavy fire, seem to merit particular notice. 
 
 To Brigadier-General Wool my obligations are es- 
 pecially due. The high state of discipline and instruc- 
 tion of several of the volunteer regiments was attained 
 under his command, and to his vigilance and arduous 
 service before the action, and his gallantry and activity 
 on the field, a large share of our success may justly be 
 attributed. During most of the engagement he was in 
 immediate command of the troops thrown back on our 
 left flank. I beg leave to recommend him to the favour- 
 able notice of the government. Brigadier-General Lane 
 (slightly wounded) was active and zealous throughout 
 the day, and displayed great coolness and gallantry be- 
 fore the enemy. 
 
 The services of the light artillery, always conspicu- 
 ous, were more than usually distinguished. Moving 
 rapidly over the roughest ground, it was always in ac- 
 tion a{, the right place and the right time, and its well- 
 directed fire dealt destruction in the masses of the enemy. 
 
TAYLOR. 166 
 
 While I recommend to particular favour the gallant con- 
 duct and valuable services of Major Munroe, chief of 
 artillery, and Captains Washington, 4th artillery, and 
 Sherman and Bragg, 3d artillery, commanding batteries, 
 I deem it no more than just to mention all the subaltern 
 officers. They were nearly all detached at different 
 times, and in every situation exhibited conspicuous skill 
 and gallantry. Captain O'Brien, Lieutenants Brent, 
 Whiting, and Couch, 4th artillery, and Bryan, Topo- 
 graphical Engineers (slightly wounded), were attached 
 to Captain Washington's battery. Lieutenants Thomas, 
 Reynolds, and French, 3d artillery (severely wounded), 
 to that of Captain Sherman ; and Captain Shover and 
 Lieutenant Kilburn, 3d artillery, to that of Captain 
 Bragg. Captain Shover, in conjunction with Lieutenant 
 Donaldson, 1st artillery, rendered gallant and important 
 service in repulsing the cavalry of General Minon. The 
 regular cavalry, under Lieutenant-Colonel May, with 
 w T hich was associated Captain Pike's squadron of Ar- 
 kansas horse, rendered useful service in holding the 
 enemy in check and in covering the batteries at several 
 points. Captain Steen, 1st dragoons, was severely 
 wounded early in the day, while gallantly endeavouring, 
 with my authority, to rally the troops which were fall- 
 ing to the rear. 
 
 The Mississippi riflemen, under Colonel Davis, were 
 highly conspicuous Tor their gallantry and steadiness, and 
 .sustained throughout the engagement the reputation of 
 veteran troops. Brought into action against an im- 
 mensely superior force, they maintained themselves for 
 a long time unsupported ami with heavy loss, and held 
 an important part of the field until reinforced. Colonel 
 Davis, though severely wounded, remained in the saddle 
 until the close of the action. His distinguished cool- 
 
166 TAYLOR AXD HIS GENERALS. 
 
 ness and gallantry at the head of his regiment on this 
 day entitle him to the particular notice of the govern- 
 ment. The 3d Indiana regiment, under Colonel Lane, 
 and a fragment of the 2d, under Colonel Bowles, were 
 associated with the Mississippi regiment during the 
 greater portion of the day, and acquitted themselves 
 creditably in repulsing the attempts of the enemy to 
 break that portion of our line. The Kentucky cavalry, 
 under Colonel Marshall, rendered good service dis- 
 mounted, acting as light troops on our left, and 
 afterward, with a portion of the Arkansas regiment, in 
 meeting and dispersing the column of cavalry at Buena 
 Vista. The 1st and 2d Illinois, and the 2d Kentucky 
 regiments, served immediately under my eye, and I bear 
 a willing testimony to their excellent conduct throughout 
 the day. The spirit and gallantry with which the 1st 
 Illinois and 2d Kentucky engaged the enemy in the 
 morning, restored confidence to that part of the field, 
 while the list of casualties will show how much these 
 three regiments suffered in sustaining the heavy charge 
 of the enemy in the afternoon. Captain Conner's 
 company of Texas volunteers, attached to the 2d 
 Illinois regiment, fought bravely, its captain being 
 wounded and two subalterns killed. Colonel Bissell, 
 the only surviving colonel of these regiments, merits 
 notice for his coolness and bravery on this occasion. 
 After the fall of the field-officers of the 1st Illinois 
 and 2d Kentucky regiments, the command of the 
 former devolved upon Lieutenant-Colonel Weatherford ; 
 that of the latter upon Major Fry. 
 
 Regimental commanders and others who have ren- 
 dered reports, speak in general terms of the good con- 
 duct of their officers and men, and have specified many 
 names, but the limits of this report forbid a recapitulation 
 
TAYLOR. 167 
 
 of them here. I may, however, mention Lieutenants 
 Rucker and Campbell of the dragoons, and Captain Pike, 
 Arkansas cavalry, commanding squadrons ; Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Field, Kentucky cavalry; Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Roane, Arkansas cavalry, upon whom the command de- 
 volved after the fall of Colonel Yell ; Major Bradford 
 Captain Sharpe (severely wounded), and Adjutant Grif- 
 fith, Mississippi regiment; Lieutenant-Colonel Hadden, 
 2d Indiana regiment, and Lieutenant Robinson, aid-de- 
 camp to General Lane ; Lieutenant-Colonel Weatherford, 
 1st Illinois regiment; Lieutenant-Colonel Morrison, Ma- 
 joi Trail, and Adjutant Whiteside (severely wounded), 
 2d Illinois regiment ; and Major Fry, 2d Kentucky- regi- 
 ment, as being favourably noticed for gallantry and good 
 conduct. Major McCulloch, quartermaster in the volun- 
 teer service, rendered important services before the en- 
 gagement, in the command of a spy company, and during 
 the affair was associated with the regular cavalry. To 
 Major Warren, 1st Illinois volunteers, I feel much in- 
 debted for his firm and judicious course, while exercising 
 command in the city of Saltillo. 
 
 The medical staff, under the able direction of Assist- 
 ant-Surgeon Hitchcock, were assiduous in attention to 
 the wounded upon the field, and in their careful removal 
 to the rear. Both in these respects, and in the subse 
 quent organization and service of the hospitals, the ad- 
 ministration of this department was everything that could 
 be wished. 
 
 Brigadier-General Wool speaks in high terms of the 
 officers of his staff, and I take pleasure in mentioning them 
 here, having witnessed their activity and zeal upon the 
 field. Lieutenant and Aid-de-camp McDowell, Colonel 
 Churchill, inspector-general, Captain Chapman, assist- 
 ant quartermaster, Lieutenant Sitgreaves, Topographical 
 11 
 
1G& TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 Engineers, and Captains Howard and Davis, volunteer 
 service, are conspicuously noticed by the general for 
 their gallantry and good conduct. Messrs. March, 
 Addicks, Potts, Harrison, Burgess, and Dusenbery, 
 attached in various capacities to General Wool's head- 
 quarters, are likewise mentioned for their intelligent 
 alacrity in conveying orders to all parts of the field. 
 
 In conclusion, I beg leave to speak of my own staff, 
 to whose exertions in rallying troops and communicating 
 orders I feel greatly indebted. Major Bliss, assistant 
 adjutant-general, Captain J. H. Eaton, and Lieutenant 
 R. S. Garnett, aids-de-camp, served near my person, 
 and were prompt and zealous in the discharge of every 
 duty. Major Munroe, beside rendering valuable service 
 as chief of artillery, was active and instrumental, as 
 were also Colonels Churchill and Belknap, inspectors- 
 general, in rallying troops and disposing them for the 
 defence of the train and baggage. Colonel Whiting, 
 quartermaster-general, and Captain Eaton, chief of the 
 subsistence department, were engaged with the duties 
 of their departments and also served in my immediate 
 staff on the field. Captain Siblev, assistant quarter- 
 master, was necessarily left with the head-quarter camp 
 near town, where his services were highly useful. Ma- 
 jor Mansfield and Lieutenant Benham, Engineers, and 
 Captain Linnard and Lieutenants Pope and Franklin, 
 Topographical Engineers, were employed before and du- 
 ring the engagement in making reconnoissances, and on 
 the field were very active in bringing information and in 
 conveying my orders to distant points. Lieutenant 
 Kingsbury, in addition to his proper duties as ordnance 
 officer, Captain Chilton, assistant quartermaster, and 
 Majors Dix and Coffee, served also as extra aids-de- 
 ?amp, and were actively employed in the transmission 
 
TAYLOR. L69 
 
 of orders. Mr. Thomas L. Crittenden, of Kentucky, 
 though not in service, volunteered as my aid-de-camp 
 on this occasion, and served with credit in that capacity 
 Major Craig, chief of ordnance, and Surgeon Craig 
 medical director, had been detached on duty from head 
 quarters, and did not reach the ground until the morning 
 of the 24th — too late to participate in the action, but in 
 time to render useful services in their respective depart- 
 ments of the staff. 
 
 I respectfully enclose returns of the troops engaged, 
 and of casualties incident to the battle. 
 
 I am, sir, very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 Z. TAYLOR, 
 Major- General U. S. A. Commanding. 
 The Adjutant General of the Army, ) 
 Washington, D. C. i 
 
 The following are the summons of Santa Anna and 
 General Taylor's answer. The latter has been greatly 
 admired for its modesty and strict propriety. There is 
 no bravado — nothing like theatrical flourish about the 
 general. 
 
 [Translation.] 
 Summons of General Santa Anna to General Taylor. 
 
 You are surrounded by 20,000 men, and cannot, 
 in any human probability, avoid suffering a rout, and 
 being cut to pieces with your troops ; but as you de- 
 serve consideration and particular esteem, I wish to save 
 you from a catastrophe, and for that purpose give you 
 this notice, in order that you may surrender at discie 
 tion, under the assurance that yc u will be treated with the 
 consideration belonging to the Mexican character, to 
 which end you will be granted an hour's time to make 
 up your mind, to commence from the moment when my 
 flag of truce arrives in your camp. 
 
170 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 With this view, I assure you of my particular conside- 
 ration. 
 
 God and Liberty. Camp at Encantada, February 
 22, 1847. 
 
 ANTONIO LOPEZ DE SANTA ANNA. 
 
 To Gen. Z. Taylor, 
 Commanding the forces of the U. S. 
 
 Head-Quarters Army of Occupation, } 
 Near Buena Vista, February 22, 1847. | 
 Sir : In reply to your note of this date, summoning 
 me to surrender my forces at discretion, I beg leave to 
 say that I decline acceding to your request. 
 With high respect, I am, sir, 
 
 Your obedient servant, 
 
 Z. TAYLOR, 
 Major- General U. S. Jlrmy, Commanding. 
 Senor Gen. D. Antonio Lopez De Santa Anna. 
 Commander-in-Chief. La Encantada. 
 
 The following description of the battle of Buena 
 Vista, is from the pen of a gentleman who was present 
 and shared in the dangers and labours of this tremen 
 dous encounter. Its details of personal matters will 
 serve to fill up the general outline of the official account. 
 
 Camt at Buena Vista, \ 
 February 24. 1847. ) 
 Messrs Editors: — On the morning of the 22d, intel- 
 ligence reached General Taylor, at his camp on the hill 
 overlooking Saltillo from the south, that Santa Anna, 
 whose presence in our vicinity had been reported for 
 several days, was advancing upon our main body, 
 stationed near the rancho Sancho Juan de Buena Vista, 
 about seven miles from Saltillo. The general imme- 
 diately moved forward with May's squadron of dragoons, 
 
TAYLOR. 171 
 
 Sherman's and Bragg's batteries of artillery, and the 
 Mississippi regiment of riflemen, under Colonel Davis, and 
 arrived at the position which he had selected for awaiting 
 the attack of the enemy, about eleven o'clock. The time 
 and the place, the hour and the man, seemed to promise a 
 glorious celebration of the day. It was the 22d of 
 February, the anniversary of that day on which the God 
 of battles gave to freedom its noblest champion, to pa- 
 triotism its purest model, to America a preserver, and to 
 the world the nearest realization of human perfection — 
 for panegyric sinks before the name of Washington. 
 
 The morning was bright and beautiful. Not a cloud 
 floated athwart the firmament or dimmed the azure ol 
 the sky ; and the flood of golden radiance which gilded 
 the mountain tops and poured over the valleys, wrought 
 light and shade into a thousand fantastic forms. A soft 
 breeze swept down from the mountains, rolling into 
 graceful undulation the banner of the republic, which 
 was proudly streaming from the flag-staff of the fort 
 and from the towers and battlements of Saltillo. Th< 
 omens were all in our favour. 
 
 In the choice of his position, General Taylor had exhi 
 bated the same comprehensive sagacity and masterly coup 
 d'ceil which characterized his dispositions at Resaca de la 
 Palma, and which crowned triumphantly all his operation? 
 amid the blazing lines of Monterey. The mountains 
 rise on either side of an irregular and broken valleys 
 about three miles in width, dotted over with hills anil 
 ridges, and scarred with broad and winding ra> 
 The main road lies along the course of an arroyo, the 
 bed of which is now so deep as to form an almost impass- 
 able barrier, while the other side is bounded by precipi- 
 tous elevations, stretching perpendicularly towards the 
 mountains, and separated by broad gullies, until they 
 
172 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS 
 
 mingle into one at the base of the principal range. On 
 the right of the narrowest point of the roadway, a bat- 
 talion of the 1st Illinois regiment, under Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Weatherford, was stationed in a small trench 
 extending to the natural ravine, while, on the opposite 
 height, the main body of the regiment under Colonel 
 Hardin was posted, with a single piece of artillery from 
 Captain Washington's battery. The post of honour on 
 the extreme right was assigned to Bragg's artillery, Lis 
 left supported by the 2d regiment of Kentucky foot, under 
 Colonel McKee, the left flank of which rested upon the 
 arroyo. Washington's battery occupied a position im- 
 mediately in front of the narrow point of the roadway, in 
 rear of which, and somewhat to the left, on another 
 height, the 2d Illinois regiment, under Colonel Bissel, 
 was posted. Next on the left, the Indiana brigade 
 under General Lane was deployed, while on the extreme 
 left the Kentucky cavalry, under Colonel Marshall, 
 occupied .a position directly under the frowning summits 
 of the mountains. The two squadrons of the 1st and 2d 
 dragoons, and the Arkansas cavalry, under Colonel Yell, 
 were posted in the rear, ready for any service which the 
 exigencies of the day might require. 
 
 These dispositions had been made for some time, when 
 the enemy was seen advancing in the distance, and the 
 clouds of dust which rolled up before him, gave satisfac- 
 tory evidence that his numbers were not unworthy the 
 trial of strength upon which we were about to enter. 
 He arrived upon his position in immense numbers, and 
 with force sufficiently numerous to have commenced his 
 attack at once, had he been as confident of success as it 
 subsequently appeared he was solicitous for our safety. 
 The first evidence directly afforded us of the presence of 
 Santa Anna was a white .lag, which was dimly seen 
 
TAYLOR. 173 
 
 fluttering in the breeze, and anon Surgeon-General Lin- 
 denberg, of the Mexican army, arrived, bearing a beau- 
 tiful emblem of benevolent bravado and Christian charity. 
 It was a missive from Santa Anna, suggested by consid- 
 erations for our personal comfort, which has placed us 
 under lasting obligations, proposing to General Taylor 
 terms of unconditional surrender, promising good treat- 
 ment ; assuring us his force amounted to upwards of 
 20,000 men, that our defeat was inevitable, and that, to 
 spare the effusion of blood, his proposition should be 
 complied with. Strange to say, the American general 
 showed the greatest ingratitude, evinced no appreciation 
 whatever of Santa Anna's kindness, and informed him that 
 whether his force amounted to 20,000 or 50,000, it was 
 equally a matter of indifference ; the terms of adjustment 
 must be arranged by gunpowder. 
 
 The messenger returned to his employer, and we 
 watched in silence to hear the roar of his artillery. 
 Hours rolled by without any movement on his part ; and 
 it appeared that the Mexican commander, grieved at our 
 stubbornness, was almost disposed to retrace his steps, 
 as if determined to have no further intercourse with such 
 ungrateful audacity. At .ength he mustered resolution 
 to open a fire from a mortar, throwing several shells into 
 our camp, without execution. While this was going on, 
 Captain Steen, of the 1st dragoons, with a single man, 
 started toward a hill, on which the Mexican general 
 seemed to be stationed with his staff, but before he 
 completed the ascent the party vanished, and when he 
 reached the top he discovered that two regiments had 
 thrown themselves into squares to resist the charge. 
 The captain's gravity was overcome by this opposition, 
 and he returned. 
 
 Just before dark, a number of Santa Anna's infantry 
 
174 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 had succeeded in getting a position high up the moun- 
 tains on our left, from which they could make a noise 
 without exposing themselves to much danger, and at a 
 distance of three hundred yards opened a most tremen- 
 dous fire upon Colonel Marshall's regiment. This was 
 returned by two of his companies, which were dismount- 
 ed and detached for the purpose, as soon as they could 
 arrive within a neighbourly range. The skirmishing 
 continued till after dark, with no result to us, save the 
 wounding of three men very slightly. 
 
 During the night, a Mexican prisoner was taken, who 
 reported Santa Anna's force as consisting of fifteen pieces 
 of artillery, including some 24-pounders, 6000 cavalry, 
 and 15,000 infantry — thus confirming the statement of 
 his superior. The firing on our extreme left, which 
 ceased soon after sunset on the 22d, was renewed on the 
 morning of the 23d, at an early hour. This was also 
 accompanied by quick discharges of artillery from the 
 same quarter, the Mexicans having established during 
 the night a twelve-pounder on a point at the base of the 
 mountain, which commanded any position which could 
 be taken by us. To counteract the effect of this ] 
 Lieutenant O'Brien, 4th artillery, was detached with 
 three pieces of Washington's battery, having with him 
 Lieutenant Bryan, of the topograpoical engineers, who, 
 having planted a few shells in the midst of the em 
 gunners, for the time effectually silenced his fire. 
 
 From the movements soon perceptible along the left 
 of our line, it became evident that the enemy was 
 attempting to turn that flank, and for that purpose had 
 concentrated a largu body of cavalry and infantry on his 
 right. The base of the mountain around which these 
 troops were wending their way, seemed girdled with a 
 belt of steelj as their glittering sal polished lone-. 
 
TAYLOR. 1 /O 
 
 flashed back the beams of the morning sun. Sherman's 
 and Bragg's batteries were immediately ordered to the 
 left; Colonel Bissell's regiment occupied a position be- 
 tween them, while Colonel McKee's Kentuckians were 
 transferred from the right of our line, so as to hold a 
 position near the centre. 
 
 The 2d Indiana regiment, under Colonel Bowles, 
 was placed on our extreme left, nearly perpendicular to 
 the direction of our line, so as to oppose, by a direct 
 fire, the flank movement of the enemy. These disposi- 
 tions having been promptly effected, the artillery of both 
 armies opened their fires, and simultaneously the Mexican 
 infantry commenced a rapid and extended discharge upon 
 our line, from the left to McKee's regiment. Our artil- 
 lery belched forth its thunders with tremendous effect, 
 while the Kentuckians returned the fire of the Mexican 
 infantry with great steadiness and success ; their field 
 officers, McKee, Clay, and Fry, passing along their line, 
 animating and encouraging the men by precept and ex- 
 ample. 
 
 The 2d Illinois regiment also received the enemy's 
 fire with great firmness, and returned an ample equiva- 
 lent. While this fierce conflict w^as going on, the main 
 body of Colonel Hardin's regiment moved to the right 
 o ^ the Kentuckians, and the representatives of each state 
 seemed to vie with each other in the honourable ambition 
 of doing the best service for their country. Both regi- 
 ments gallantly sustained their positions, and won unfad- 
 ing laurels. The veterans of Austerlitz could not have 
 exhibited more courage, coolness, and devotion. 
 
 In the mean time the enemy's cavalry had been 
 stealthily pursuing its way along the mountain, and 
 though our artillery had wrought great havoc among its 
 numbers, the leading squadrons had passed the extreme 
 
176 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 points of danger, and was almost in position to attack 
 his rear. At this critical moment * * * 
 
 Several officers of General Taylor's 
 staff immediately dashed off, to arrest, if possible, the 
 retreating regiment. * Major Dix, of the 
 
 pay department, formerly of the 7th infantry, * * 
 and seizing the colours of the regiment, appealed to the 
 men to know whether they had determined to desert 
 them. He was answered by three cheers, showing that 
 * they were not unmindful of an act of 
 
 distinguished gallantry on the part of another. A por 
 tion of the regiment immediately rallied around him, and 
 was reformed by the officers. Dix, in person, then led 
 them towards the enemy, until one of the men volun- 
 teered to take the flag. The party returned to the field. 
 * * While the day, however, 
 
 by this disgraceful panic, was fast going against us, the 
 artillery was advanced, its front extended, and different 
 sections and pieces under- Sherman, Bragg, O'Brien, 
 Thomas, Reynolds, Kilburn, French, and Bryan, were 
 working such carnage in the ranks of the enemy as to 
 make his columns roll to and fro like ships upon the 
 billows. His triumph at the Indiana retreat was but a 
 moment, and his shouts of joy were soon followed by 
 groans of anguish, and shrieks of expiring hundreds. 
 
 Washington's battery on the right had now opened its 
 fire, and driven back a large party of lancers, advancing 
 in that direction. Along the entire line the battle raged 
 with great fury. Twenty-one thousand of the victims 
 of Mexican oppression and the myrmidons of Mexican 
 despotism were arrayed against five thousand Americans, 
 sent forjh to conquer a peace. The discharges of the 
 infantry followed each other more rapidly than the sounds 
 of the Swiss bell-ringers in the fierce fervour of a finale. 
 

 
i 
 

TAYLOR. 179 
 
 and the volleys of artillery reverberated through the 
 mountains like the thunders of an Alpine storm. 
 
 The myriads of Mexican cavalry still pressed forward 
 on our left, and threatened a charge upon the Mississippi 
 rifles, under Colonel Davis, who had been ordered to 
 support the Indiana regiment. * * 
 
 * * * * * * Colonel Da\ is 
 immediately threw his command into the form of a V, the 
 opening towards the enemy, and awaited his advance. 
 (>>i he came, dashing with all the speed of Mexican 
 horses, but when he arrived at that point from which 
 could be seen the whites of his eyes, both lines poured 
 forth a sheet of lead that scattered him like chaff, felling 
 many a gallant steed to the earth, and sending scores of 
 riders to the sleep that knows no waking. 
 
 While the dispersed Mexican cavalry were rallying, 
 the 3d Indiana regiment, under Colonel Lane, was or- 
 dered to join Colonel Davis, supported by a considera- 
 ble body of 'norse. About this time, from some un- 
 known reason, our wagon train displayed its length along 
 the Saltillo road ; and offered a conspicuous prize for 
 the Mexican lancers, which they seemed not unwilling 
 to appropriate. Fortunately, Lieutenant Rucker, with a 
 squadron of the first dragoons (Captain Steen having 
 been previously wounded and Captain Eustis confined 
 to his bed by illness), was present, and by order of Gen- 
 eral Taylor dashed among them in a most brilliant styie, 
 dispersing them by his charge,* as effectually as the pie- 
 vious fire of the Mississippi riflemen. May's dragooi s, 
 with a squadron of Arkansas cavalry, under Captain 
 Pike, and supported by a single piece of artillery, under 
 Lieutenant Reynolds, now claimed their share in the dis- 
 cussion, and when the Mexicans had again assembled, 
 they had to encounte" another shock from the two 
 

"-*• TAYLOR. 179 
 
 and the volleys of artillery reverberated through the 
 mountains like the thunders of an Alpine storm. 
 
 The myriads of Mexican cavalry still pressed forward 
 on our left, and threatened a charge upon the Mississippi 
 rifles, under Colonel Davis, who had been ordered to 
 support the Indiana regiment. * 
 
 ****** Colonel Da\ is 
 immediately threw his command into the form of a V, the 
 opening towards the enemy, and awaited his advance. 
 Oil he came, dashing with all the speed of Mexican 
 horses, but when he arrived at that point from which 
 could be seen the whites of his eyes, both lines poured 
 forth a sheet of lead that scattered him like chaff, felling 
 many a gallant steed to the earth, and sending scores of 
 riders to the sleep that knows no waking. 
 
 While the dispersed Mexican cavalry were rallying, 
 the 3d Indiana regiment, under Colonel Lane, was or- 
 dered to join Colonel Davis, supported by a considera- 
 ble body of "norse. About this time, from some un- 
 known reason, our wagon train displayed its length along 
 the Saltillo road ; and offered a conspicuous prize for 
 the Mexican lancers, which they seemed not unwilling 
 io appropriate. Fortunately, Lieutenant Rucker, with a 
 squadron of the first dragoons (Captain Steen having 
 been previously wounded and Captain Eustis confined 
 to his bed by illness), was present, and by order of Gen* 
 eral Taylor dashed among them in a most brilliant styie, 
 dispersing them by his charge,- as effectually as the pie- 
 vious fire of the Mississippi riflemen. May's dragooi s, 
 with a squadron of Arkansas cavalry, under Captain 
 Pike, and supported by a single piece of artillery, under 
 Lieutenant Reynolds, now claimed their share in the dis- 
 cussion, and when the Mexicans had again assembled, 
 they had to encounter another shock from the two 
 
180 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 squadrons, besides a fierce fire of grape from Reynolds's 
 six-pounder. 
 
 The lancers once more rallied, and, directing their 
 course towards the Saltillo road, were met by the re- 
 mainder of Colonel Yell's regiment and Marshall's Ken- 
 tuckians, who drove them towards the mountains on the 
 opposite side of the valley, where, from their appearance 
 when last visible, it may be presumed they are still run- 
 ning. In this precipitate movement, they were com. 
 pelled to pass through a rancho, in which many of our 
 valiant comrades had previously taken refuge, who from 
 this recure retreat opened quite an effective fire upon 
 
 them. 
 
 ****** 
 
 At this time the Mexican force was much divided, 
 and the fortunes of the day were with us. Santa 
 Anna saw the crisis, and by craft and cunning sought 
 to avert it. He sent a white flag to General Taylor, 
 desiring to know " what he wanted." This was at 
 once believed to be a mere ruse to gain time and 
 re-col Vet his men ; but the American general thought 
 fit to notice it, and General Wool w T as deputed to meet 
 the rejresentative of Santa Anna, and to say to him 
 that we " wanted" peace. Before the interview could 
 be had, the Mexicans themselves re-opened their fires, 
 thus adding treachery of the highest order to the other 
 barbarian practices which distinguish their mode of 
 warfare. The flag, however, had accomplished the 
 ends which its wily originator designed, for though our 
 troops could have effectually prevented the remainder 
 of his cavalry from joining the main body, it could only 
 have been done by a fire, which, while the parley lasted, 
 would have been an undoubted breach of faith. Although 
 a portion of the lancers during this interim had regained 
 
TAYLOR. LSI 
 
 their original position, a formidable number still remained 
 behind. Upon these the infantry opened a brisk fire, 
 while Reynolds's artillery, beautifully served, hailed the 
 grape and canister upon them with terrible effect. 
 
 The craft of Santa Anna had restored his courage 
 c m . with his reinforcement of cavalry he determined to 
 charge our line. Under cover cjf their artillery, horse 
 \ad loot advanced upon our batteries. These, from the 
 smallness of our infantry force, were but feebly supported, 
 yet, by the most brilliant and daring efforts, nobly main- 
 tained their positions. Such was the rapidity of their 
 transitions, that officers and pieces seemed empowered 
 with ubiquity ; and upon cavalry and infantry alike, 
 wherever they appeared, they poured so destructive a 
 fire as to silence the enemy's artillery, compel his whole 
 line to fall back, and soon to assume a sort of sauve qui 
 peut movement, indicating anything but victory. Again 
 our spirits rose. The Mexicans appeared thoroughly 
 routed, and while their regiments and divisions were 
 flying before us, nearly all our light troops were ordered 
 forward, and followed them with a most deadly fire, 
 mingled with shouts which rose above the roar of ar- 
 tillery. 
 
 While our men were driven through the ravines, at 
 the extremities of which a body of Mexican lancers were 
 stationed to pounce upon them like tigers, Brent an J 
 Whiting, of Washington's battery, give them such a 
 torrent of grape as put them tr fligh , and thus saved 
 the remnants of those brave regiments which had long 
 borne the hottest portion of the fight. On the other 
 flank, while the Mexicans came rushing on like legions 
 of fiends, the artillery was left unsupported, and capture 
 by the enemy seemed inevitable. But Bragg and Thomas 
 rose with the crisis, and eclipsed even the fame they won 
 
18-2 . TAYLOR AND BIB GENERALS. 
 
 at Monterey, while Sherman, O'Brien, and Bryan proved 
 themselves worthy of the alliance. Every horse with 
 O'Brien's battery was killed, and the enemy had ad 
 vanced to within range of grape, sweeping all before 
 him. But here his progress was arrested, and before 
 the showers of iron hail which assailed him, squadrons 
 and battalions fell like leaves in the blasts of autumn. 
 The Mexicans were once more driven back with great 
 loss, though taking with them the three pieces of artillery 
 which were without horses. 
 
 In this charge the 1st Illinois regiment and McKee's 
 Kentuckians were foremost. The pursuit was too hot ; 
 and as it evinced too clearly our deficiency in numbers, 
 the Mexicans, with a suddenness which was almost magi- 
 cal, rallied and returned upon us. They came in myriads, 
 and for a while the carnage was dreadful on both sides. 
 We were but a handful to oppose the frightful masses 
 which were hurled upon us, and could as easily have re- 
 sisted an avalance of thunderbolts. We were driven 
 back, and the day seemed lost beyond redemption. Vic- 
 tory, which a moment before appeared within our grasp, 
 was suddenly torn from our standard. There was but 
 one hope ; but that proved an anchor sure and steadfast. 
 
 Thus thrice during the day, when all seemed lost but 
 honour, did the artillery, by the ability with which it was 
 manoeuvred, roll back the tide of success from the enemy, 
 and give such overwhelming destructiveness to its effect 
 that the army was saved and the glory of the American 
 arms maintained. At this moment, however, let it never 
 be forgotten, that while every effective man was wanted 
 on the field, hundreds of volunteers had collected in the 
 rancho with the wagon train, whom no efforts or entrea- 
 ties could induce to join their brethren, neighbours, and 
 friends, then in the last sfr-c.-V for victory. 
 
TAYLOR. 183 
 
 The battle had now raged with variable success for 
 nearly ten hours, and by a sort of mutual consent, after 
 the last carnage wrought among the Mexicans by the 
 artillery, both parties seemed willing to pause upon the 
 result. Night fell, and the American general with his 
 troops slept upon the battle-ground, prepared, if neces- 
 sary, to resume operations on the morrow. But ere the 
 sun rose again upon the scene the Mexicans had disap- 
 peared, leaving behind them only the hundreds of their 
 dead and dying, whose bones are to whiten their native 
 hills, and whose moans of anguish were to excite in theii 
 enemies that compassion which can have no existence in 
 
 the bosoms of their friends. 
 12 
 
CHAPTER VIII. 
 
 Vrecdotes and incidents of the battle of Buena Vista — In 
 stances of individual gallantry — Notices of distinguished 
 officers among the slain — Santa Anna's Despatch. 
 
 MAJOR COFFEE'S NARRATIVE. 
 
 Major Coffee, of the army, the bearer of General 
 Taylor's despatches — a son of the distinguished general 
 vho fought so bravely on the plains of Chalmette, and 
 n various other battles, by the side of the illustrious 
 Jackson, and acted as the aid of General Taylor in the 
 bloody fight at Buena Vista, gives these particulars of 
 this hard-fought battle : — 
 
 General Taylor had fallen in love, at first sight, with 
 the position at which he finally made his stand — at Buena 
 Vista. His movement towards Agua Nueva was merely 
 a rase to decoy the enemy into the field which he had 
 selected for his battle ground. As soon as McCullough's 
 men, who were invaluable as scouts, informed him of 
 Santa Annans approach to Agua Nueva, General Taylor 
 quietly broke up his camp, and fell back to his first love, 
 Buena Vista. This position was admirably chosen. It 
 was at the foot of a mountain, or rather of two moun- 
 tains, between which ran the road through a narrow 
 valley. On his right there was a deep ravine, which 
 protected that flank more effectually than half a dozen 
 regiments could have done. The left of General Taylor's 
 line rested on the base of a mountain. The road in the 
 centre was intrenched and defended by i strong battery. 
 
TAYLOR. 185 
 
 In front the ground was uneven — broken into hills and 
 deep ravines — well ad?ptfd ** the mode of fighting 
 suited to our volunteers, and by its peculiarities supply- 
 ing the disadvantage of a great inferiority of numbers. 
 
 On the 21st the enemy were descried approaching 
 over the distant hills. At their appearance the volunteers 
 raised a great shout, and gave three tremendous cheers. 
 Their engineers and officers were seen flying over the 
 field, and dragging their cannon about to get them into 
 position, but the nature of the ground did not favour 
 the undertaking, and it was late in the day before the 
 big guns began to open. 
 
 The enemy had with them thirty-two cannon, 
 mostly of large calibre. Their fire, though kept up 
 very briskly, and apparently well manned, did so little 
 execution in our ranks that it was not considered neces- 
 sary to return their fire. Our cannon were therefore 
 silent the whole of the 21st. Eight or ten killed and 
 wounded was the extent of the casualties sustained by 
 our army on the 21st. During the day an officer 
 approached our lines with a flag of truce, and requested 
 to be shown to General Taylor. The brave old man 
 was sitting quietly on his white charger, with his leg 
 over the pommel of the saddle, watching the movements 
 of the enemy, when the Mexican officer was presented. 
 In a very courteous and graceful manner the officer 
 stated that " he had been sent by his excellency General 
 Santa Anna to his excellency General Taylor, to inquire, 
 in the most respectful manner, what he (General 
 Taylor) was waiting for ?" From the silence of 
 General Taylor's batteries, and the quiet manner in 
 which he received Santa Anna's terrific cannonading, 
 the Mexican supposed he was asking a very proper 
 question ; to which however, old Rough and Ready gave 
 
186 TA LOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 the very pertinent reply that " he was only waiting for 
 General Santa Anna to surrender." The Mexican 
 returned hastily to his lines. This message proved to 
 be a ruse to ascertain where General Taylor's position 
 was, for after the return of the Mexican officer to his 
 own ranks, the whole Mexican battery seemed to open 
 upcn General Taylor's position, and the balls flew over 
 and about him like hail. Utterly indifferent to the 
 perils of his situation, there sat the old chief on his 
 conspicuous white horse, peering through his spy-glass 
 at the long lines of Mexican troops that could be seen 
 at a great distance on the march. The persuasion of 
 his aids could not induce him to abandon his favourite 
 point of observation, nor to give up his old white horse. 
 To the suggestions of his staff that " old whitey" was 
 rather too conspicuous a charger for the commander, he 
 replied, that " the old fellow had missed the fun at 
 Monterey, on account of a sore foot, and he was 
 determined he should have his share this time." 
 
 All the officers on our side, in this hard-fought battle, 
 distinguished themselves. The details of the battle were 
 confided to General Wool, who nobly justified the confi- 
 dence of his commander and brother veteran, by the 
 most active, zealous, efficient, and gallant conduct. 
 Throughout the whole action he was constantly engaged 
 in the disposition of our forces, and in rallying them to 
 the onset. It was a miracle he escaped the thick-flying 
 balls which thinned the ranks he was marshalling. There 
 w as but one complaint made against him, an.' that was 
 that he exposed himself too much. Brigad r-General 
 Lane also showed himself to be a brave a» d capable 
 officer. Although wounded early in the action, he kept 
 his horse until it closed, and never for a moment left his 
 post. 
 
TAYLOR. 187 
 
 On the night of the 22d, both armies drew off from the 
 field of battle. Our men were engaged all night in bring- 
 ing in the wounded and taking care of them, the Mexicans 
 as well as their own men. There were, however, but few 
 of our men found on the field wounded. They were, to 
 use Santa Anna's significant words in his despatch, " all 
 dead," the cowardly miscreants having killed every man 
 whom they overtook, wounded and helpless on the field. 
 With like turpitude and treachery, they left their dead 
 unburied and their wounded uncared for, on the field 
 where they fell. The latter were carried to Saltillo in 
 our own wagons, the former were buried by the alcalde, 
 under the orders of General Taylor. 
 
 A number of officers were taken prisoners, and an ex- 
 change was effected, by which all our men in their hands 
 were released. Cassius M. Clay's party are understood 
 now to be in the city of Mexico. 
 
 Among the killed and wounded of the Mexicans are 
 three general officers, and twenty colonels and com- 
 manders of battalions. General Minon, it appears, has 
 not as yet realized the brilliant career of which he con- 
 sidered his capture of Major Borland an earnest. He 
 was ordered by Santa Anna to attack and carry Saltillo 
 during the engagement at Buena Vista. With this ob- 
 ject he made a demonstration against the town with 
 2000 cavalry. Lieutenant Shover, with sixty men and 
 two small pieces of artillery, went out to meet the valiant 
 general, and at one discharge of his cannon sent him 
 and his large force to the right-about in double quick 
 time. 
 
 In concluding our necessarily imperfect sketch of the 
 few details of the brilliant deeds of American valour per- 
 formed at Buena Vista — details gathered from a hasty 
 ronversation — we must be allowed to express our satis- 
 
188 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS 
 
 faction to find that the anticipations we have so confi- 
 dently and so frequently expressed of the bravery and 
 efficiency of our volunteers, have been more than real- 
 ized. Let those who have heretofore made our citizen 
 soldiers the theme of their ribaldry and ridicule, be for 
 ever hushed into silence by the unparalleled gallantry 
 and glory which have consecrated in American history 
 the bloody field of Buena Vista. 
 
 THE KENTUCKY REGIMENT. 
 
 At a very critical point of the battle on the 23d, 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 Ken- 
 tucky 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 those decisive crises which occur m 
 
TAYLOR. 
 
 every contested field, when the issue of the day depend- 
 ed, for the time being, upon the gallantry of a particular 
 corps. 
 
 General Taylor, who, as before said, could only see 
 the heads of the tioops, 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 Kentuckian too — and an eye fierce with emotion, 
 exclaimed, « Mr. Crittenden, this will not do — this is 
 not the way for Kentuckians to behave themselves 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 from very chagrin 
 and shame. In a few moments, however, the Kentuck- 
 ians had crossed the uneven places, and were seen as- 
 cending the slope of the valley, shoulder to shoulder, 
 and with the firm and regular step of veterans of a 
 hundred fields. On they moved until they reached the 
 crest of the hill, where they met the enemy 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 precipitously. 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 expression. A glow of pride 
 supplanted the deep mortification which fixed its muscles, 
 and enthusiasm qualified the fierce glance of his eye. 
 Forward they moved under his riveted gaze, whose 
 feelings became more and more wrought up as they 
 
190 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 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 as it were to 
 himself and rising in his saddle — " th -it 's the way to do 
 it; give it to them," and the tears ol exultation rolled 
 down his cheeks as he said it. 
 
 Having got rid of this ebullition of state pride, he went 
 ibout looking after other parts of the field. 
 
 The Kentuckians that day did their duty as others did. 
 The)- paid toll in travelling the highroad to glory, as 
 the list of killed and wounded shows. 
 
 THE FLAG OF HUMANITY. 
 
 An eye-witness — one who was near General Tay- 
 lor's person all the time, with the exceptions of those 
 intervals during which he was carrying his orders over 
 the field — informs us that not a man of the American 
 lines, with the exception of the momentary panic of the 
 Arkansas regiment, wavered for an instant whilst facing 
 the most galling fire and receiving the repeated charges 
 of the enemy, which, it is but candour to say, were con- 
 ducted with spirit and address. 
 
 As an instance of the desperation with which both 
 armies fought, Mr. Crittenden, who acted as General 
 Taylor's aid throughout the fight, when asked whethei 
 the Mexicans had taken three pieces of ordnance from us, 
 as Santa Anna reported, replied in the affirmative, and 
 said that the guns were not given up till every man at 
 them was shot down, and every horse killed near them ; 
 and, moreover, that in bearing them off, the Mexicans 
 suffered a loss of some six hundred men. They inter- 
 fered madly between the retreating guns and our men, 
 seeking to regain them. These guns were a part of 
 
TAYLOR. 191 
 
 Captain Washington's battery, under the command of 
 Lieutenant O'Brien. Lieutenant O'Brien was wounded 
 before his guns were taken, and when reporting his loss 
 to General Taylor, was complimented for his bravery — 
 it was no fault of his. Captain Washington was in 
 another part of the field, and sustained himself with great 
 coolness and intelligence, as did Captains Bragg and 
 Sherman, with their respective batteries — in all but four- 
 teen guns. 
 
 It may be proper here to explain the circumstances 
 upon which a report is founded that General Taylor had 
 sent Santa Anna a flag of truce during the action. It 
 occurred that a body of Mexican infantry, about a thou- 
 sand strong, had become detached from Santa Anna's 
 army, and were being mowed down with terrible slaugh- 
 ter. General Taylor sent Mr. Crittenden with a flag to 
 say to them that if they would surrender he would stop 
 killing them. When Mr. Crittenden got amongst them, 
 he was taken by them to Santa Anna with his eyes blind 
 folded. This he remonstrated against without effect. 
 When he was brought to Santa Anna, he was asked 
 his mission. He told him he had no message for him ; 
 that he was sent to ask a detached force to surrender, to 
 save the effusion of blood, and as his errand was unsuc- 
 cessful, he demanded to be sent back to his general. It 
 was then that Santa Anna requested him to tell General 
 Taylor that if he would surrender he would be protected 
 and well cared for. Mr. Crittenden replied that he had 
 no commission to speak with him (Santa Anna) upon 
 that or any other matter, but it was no use to send any 
 such message, as General Taylor never surrendered? 
 
192 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 DISTINGUISHED OFFICERS SLAIN. 
 
 A gentleman writing from the scene of action, with 
 reference to the officers of distinction who fell at Buena 
 Vista, says : At sunrise on the 22d of February, the bat- 
 tle began in earnest. The Mexicans were drawn out in 
 immense numbers. The dark columns- of infantry ex- 
 tended as far as the eye could reach, and the cavalry 
 seemed to cover the whole view with their interminable 
 lines. At intervals, between the infantry and cavalry, 
 their big guns, strongly protected by a large artillery 
 force, kept up an incessant cannonade against our lines. 
 Their forces were soon in motion. Our artillery was 
 thrown forward to meet them, protected by the volunteers. 
 General Wool led the main body in person, and was 
 seen everywhere rallying and encouraging the volun- 
 teers. The two armies were soon engaged in hot con- 
 flict. The broken nature of the ground divided the 
 forces, so that, instead of one general engagement, the 
 regiments w T ere compelled in a great measure to fight on 
 their own hook. Our officers were always in the ad- 
 vance, leading their troops — hence the great mortality 
 among them. In this general "melee," one of oui 
 small regiments, of 400 men, would be attacked by a 
 whole Mexican brigade of several thousand. Thus the 
 Kentucky infantry was attacked at the foot of a hill, in a 
 deep ravine, by an immense force of the enemy. 
 
 A large number of officers were killed here — among 
 them \vas Colonel McKee, who fell badly wounded, and 
 was immediately despatched by the enemy, who pierced 
 him with their bayonets as he lay on the ground. Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel Clay was shot through the thigh, and 
 being unable to walk, w r as taken up and carried some 
 distance by some of his men, but owing to the steepness 
 
TAYLOR. i'J'd 
 
 < f the hill, the men finding it very difficult to carry him, 
 and the enemy in great numbers pressing upon them, the 
 gallant lieutenant-colonel begged them to leave him 
 and take care of themselves. Forced to leave him on 
 the field, the last that was seen of this noble young 
 officer he was lying on his back, fighting with his sword 
 the enemv, who were stabbing him with their bayonets. 
 The veteran, Captain William S. Willis, of the same 
 regiment, at the head of his company, with three stal- 
 wart sons who fought at his side, was badly wounded, 
 but still continued the fight, until he was overcome with 
 the loss of blood. 
 
 In the mean time the Indiana brigade, who were 
 drawn out and ordered to charge the enemy, were seized 
 with a panic, and displaying some hesitation, Assistant 
 Adjutant-General Lincoln rushed to their front, and, 
 whilst upbraiding them for their cowardice, was shot, 
 several balls passing through his body. In justice to 
 this brigade, it should be stated that they subsequently 
 rallied, and fully redeemed their reputation by the mo? 
 gallant and effective fighting. 
 
 Colonel Hardin led the Illinoisians in a very handsorm 
 style, and the sturdy " suckers" fought like lions. 
 Their intrepid colonel fell wounded, and experienced 
 the fate of Colonels McKee and Clay, and was killed by 
 the enemy — not however before he had killed one of the 
 cowardly miscreants with a pistol, which he fired whilst 
 lying on the ground. 
 
 Colonel Yell led, the foremost mi n, a charge of his 
 mounted volunteers against a large body of lancers, and 
 was killed by a lance, which entered his mouth and tore 
 cflTone side of his face. 
 
 The Mississippians, the heroes of Monterey, after 
 doing hard service as skirmishers, were ordered into line 
 
194 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 10 receive a charge of cavalry, which they did with their 
 rifles, delivering at the same time a most destructive fire 
 among the crow led columns of cavalry. The enemy 
 were completely repulsed. The distinguished com- 
 mander of this gallant regiment, Colonel Jefferson Davis, 
 w r as badly wounded, an escopette ball having entered 
 his foot and passed out of his leg. He was, however, 
 doing well when last heard from. The chivalrous 
 Colonel McClung was prevented from doing his share 
 of the brave deeds of this brilliant fight, by the grievous 
 wound received at the battle of Monterey, which still 
 confines him to his bed, and from which it is much 
 feared by his best friends he will never recover. 
 
 Colonel Humphrey Marshall's splendid regiment of 
 Kentucky cavalry were impatient for an opportunity of 
 showing their mettle and avenging the capture of their 
 brethren, then in the hands of the enemy. They were 
 soon favoured with the desired opportunity, by the ap- 
 proach of a force of 2000 lancers and hussars, who 
 charged on them. The Kentuckians stood their ground 
 with immoveable steadiness, and receiving the enemy 
 with a fire from their carbines, charged in the most gal- 
 lant style through the column on the right, and wheeling 
 fell on their left, dispersing and killing a great many of 
 them. A like charge was made by Colonel May, at the 
 head of a squadron of dragoons, and one of Arkansas 
 cavalry, against a large body of the enemy's cavalry, 
 with like results. 
 
 GENERAL CHARACTER OF THE BATTLE. 
 
 The following remarks on the battle of Buena Vista, 
 by the accomplished editor of the Baltimore American, 
 comprise the ablest general view of its merits which has 
 yet appeareil. The writer does no more than strict 
 
TAYLOR. 195 
 
 justice in the Lgh encomiums which he bestows on 
 General Taylor, his officers, and his men. 
 
 "It appears that the battle of Buena Vista was really 
 fought by less than 4000 Americans against 20,000 
 Mexicans. With a proportion of five to one against us, 
 in point of numbers ; it is to be remembered too that the 
 Mexicans were regular soldiers, while nearly nine-tenths 
 of our troops were volunteers on their first campaign. 
 With the exception of the Mississippi regiment, which 
 fought at Monterey, the rest of the volunteers met an 
 enemy in the field for the first time at Buena Vista. 
 We may then estimate, in some sort, the valour of those 
 brave men who stood for nine hours against overwhelm- 
 ing numbers, firm in their own heroism, indomitable in 
 spirit, inflexible in purpose, rolling back the tide of war, 
 as rocks repel the surges of the ocean, and finally stand- 
 ing victorious on that field of terrific strife. The standard 
 of the republic never streamed over a battle-field more 
 gallantly won. General Taylor's loss in killed, wound- 
 ed, and missing, was nearly one-sixth of his entire force. 
 Yet, when the battle ceased on the evening of the 23d, 
 and a renewal of the fight was expected with the 
 next day's dawn, what record do we find of that epoch 
 of suspense ! Here it is : — e During the night,' says 
 General Taylor, ' the wounded were removed to Saltillo, 
 and every preparation made to receive the enemy, should 
 he again attack our position.' There was no misgiving 
 in that little band. 
 
 This battle of Buena Vista, remarkable in many points 
 of view, is particularly so as exhibiting extraordinary 
 steadiness, endurance, and courage, on the part of raw 
 troops exposed to fire for the first time. Here was a 
 pitched battle entered upon deliberately ; an enemy im- 
 mensely superior in numbers ; regular troops, commanded 
 
196 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 by the ablest and most experienced general in Mexico , 
 and this battle to be fought in open field, without fortifi- 
 cations or intrenchments, was awaited by our soldiers, 
 who lay upon their arms on the night of the 22d, know- 
 ing that the morning's light would usher in a day of 
 conflict and carnage. It was a crisis to try veterans ; it 
 was met by men who less than a year before were en- 
 gaged in every variety of industrial pursuit in peaceful 
 life, who had never seen a battle or met a foe. 
 
 While these facts demonstrate unyielding elements of 
 hardihood and courage in the men who fought at Buena 
 Vista, they indicate also the high and commanding 
 character of the officers who brought those sterling ma- 
 terials into order and efficiency. Those lamented sons 
 of Kentucky, McKee and Clay, the gallant Davis of 
 Mississippi, and others, educated at West Point, added 
 all the aids of military knowledge to their own heroic 
 bearing in the discipline of their troops and in the inspi- 
 ration of confidence, so essential to success in war. But 
 where the blaze of glory concentrates with most particular 
 lustre, its brilliant light falls upon the calm countenance 
 of the general- in-chief, Taylor, the invincible, to whom 
 ail eyes were turned in every crisis of danger — who 
 formed in himself the stay and bulwark of the hopes of 
 his army — the only man, perhaps, who would have fought 
 the battle of Buena Vista ; the only man, probably, who 
 could have won it. Imperturbable and self-possessed, he 
 held the battle in his eye ; and amid the storm and fury 
 of the strife he inspired renewed courage by his presence 
 at every point of danger. With such a commander and 
 such troops, victory is fast bound to our standard, let it 
 float where it may." 
 
 The following account of the battle of Buena Vista by 
 General San*3 Anna, we think it due to General Taylor 
 
CHAPTER IX. 
 
 Events subsequent to the battle of Buena Vista. 
 
 On the 2d of March, Mr. Crittenden, to whose report 
 we have already referred, was sent off for the seat of 
 government, bearing despatches from General Taylor. 
 He took the usual route from Monterey to Camargo, 
 under the escort of about 250 troops, commanded by 
 Major Geddings, having along a train of some 130 
 empty wagons. As they approached Seralvo, a small 
 party was sent in to provide forage, &c, when the ene- 
 my, under Urrea, were discovered, about 1500 strong. 
 Our troops were immediately placed on the defensive, 
 and received the assault of the superior numbers with the 
 resolution of men determined to cut their way through. 
 They were repulsed with a loss of thirty men, while we 
 lost about half the number. A part of our baggage 
 train was destroyed (forty or fifty of the wagons), when 
 the gallant Urrea made good his retreat in the direction 
 of the Tula pass. The teamsters were unwilling to pro- 
 ceed without a stronger escort, and Mr. Crittenden was 
 detained five or six days at Seralvo, when Colonel 
 Curtis arrived from Camargo with a large body of 
 troops. He was too late to overtake Urrea, who had 
 probably commenced his retreat as soon as he heard of 
 Santa Anna's discomfiture. Colonel Curtis proceeded 
 towards Monterey, and the escort and train came on to 
 Camargo, the enemy having fled as rapidly as possible. 
 
 In this affair an ammunition wagon, by some accident, 
 
198 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 was cut off with the others near Seralvo. It was 
 destroyed, as most of the others were, by fire, and when 
 the explosion unexpectedly took place, killing some, 
 wounding others, and alarming all, it was regarded 
 as a Yankee trick, and it was remarked that our wagons 
 might henceforth stroll through the land, unharmed, as 
 each would be regarded as some combustible machine, 
 designed to ensnare the Mexicans. 
 
 After the battle of Buena Vista, General Taylor left 
 his encampment at Agua Nueva, with two companies of 
 Bragg's artillery and Colonel May's squadron of dragoons, 
 in pursuit of General Urrea, who, as the general learned 
 from a spy that was captured by one of the Texan ran- 
 gers, was retreating towards the mountains with. 5000 
 cavalry and rancheros. 
 
 On the 16th of March, General Taylor met Colonel 
 Curtis near Marin. This officer, with about 1200 infan- 
 try, composed of Ohio and Virginia volunteers, one 
 company of dragoons, and two pieces of artillery, was 
 now in charge of another train of wagons, with supplies 
 for the army. General Urrea had left Marin the even- 
 ing before, where he w T as said to be w T aiting to attack 
 Curtis's train ; but learning that General Taylor was ad- 
 vancing on his rear, he had made a rapid movement some 
 twenty miles from Marin. General Taylor followed in 
 pursuit the next morning, after sending on the train 
 without an escort, and adding Colonel Curtis's command 
 to his previous force. 
 
 General Taylor pursued the enemy as far as Caidereta, 
 where he ascertained that he had escaped beyond the 
 mountains. General Taylor then fell back upon Mon- 
 terey. By the latest advices from the army, 29th March, 
 he was encamped at Walnut Springs, about four miles 
 from Monterey. His force consisted of a squadron of 
 
TAYLOR. 199 
 
 dragoons, under Colonel Fauntleroy, and the Mississippi 
 regiment of volunteers, under Colonel Jefferson Davis, 
 the latter numbering only 248 men. General Wool, 
 with about 5000 troops, was encamped at Buena Vista. 
 It was reported that General Urrea was at Linares, at the 
 head of 2000 cavalry, and a corps of artillerists. There 
 was some prospect of "an affair" coming off' between 
 the respective forces of these two generals. 
 
 The character of General Taylor is best displayed by 
 his actions in the present war. Every emergency in 
 which the qualities of a great commander could shine 
 forth in full brilliancy, has presented him anew to the 
 admiration of his country. The reputation which he 
 had acquired at Fort Harrison and Okee Chobee, inspired 
 confidence at the moment when it became known that 
 he was hemmed in by multitudes of Mexicans on the 
 banks of the Rio Grande ; and when he announced that 
 " he should fight the enemy, in whatever numbers he 
 might appear," it w T as confidently believed that he would 
 conquer or perish. The brilliant victories of Palo Alto 
 and Resaca de la Palma, nevertheless excited astonish- 
 ment mingled with admiration. The siege of Monterey 
 was a new surprise. The hardihood of this enterprise 
 was still more remarkable than the cool determination 
 and firmness called forth by the preceding battles. Such 
 incidents as the following, evince the lofty spirit of 
 chivalry in which the Monterey affair was conducted 
 throughout. 
 
 The first shot fired at Monterey was from one of the 
 
 long culverins, aimed at General Taylor himself, whilst 
 
 reconnoitering. It struck a short distance in front of 
 
 him and bounded over his head. " There ! I knew it 
 
 would fall short of me," he calmly remarked. 
 IS 
 
200 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 One anecdote of General Taylor at Monterey, told 
 by his staff, has never appeared in print. In traversing 
 the field of battle, it was necessary to cross a bridge 
 which was constantly swept by the Mexican artillery. 
 When approaching it, it was agreed that they (the gen- 
 eral and his staff) should cross it singly at a gallop. 
 Four had crossed thus, when it came to the general's 
 turn. Just as he reached the middle of the bridge, and 
 when the balls were showering around him, something 
 going wrong in another part of the field attracted his 
 attention. Stopping his horse (much to the discom- 
 fiture of those following him), he deliberately took out 
 and arranged his spy-glass, satisfied himself, and then 
 closing it, rode on. 
 
 But the crowning glory was that terrible battle of 
 Buena Vista. It reminds us of Cromwell at Dunbar, but 
 with the very important difference that the victory of 
 Dunbar was gained by mailed veterans, the famous Iron- 
 sides of a hundred battles, while that of Buena Vista 
 was w T on by new recruits, well officered it is true, but 
 elevated to the highest moral tone of military daring, 
 chiefly by their undoubting reliance on the commander 
 " who never surrenders." All the incidents of the battle 
 which we have already narrated present the same view 
 of General Taylor's traits. They are all consistent, un- 
 affected, simple, forming a grand whole which has rarely 
 been rivalled, never surpassed. 
 
 But the military resources of General Taylor's char- 
 acter by no means comprise the whole of his merit. To 
 the highest order of genius as a commander, he adds the 
 noblest virtues of the man. He is always magnanimous 
 in his character of a conqueror, humane towards the 
 wounded and the captive, and sympathizing towards the 
 friends of those who fall bv his side in Hie field. This 
 
TAYLOR. 201 
 
 beautiful trait is well expressed in a letter to the Hon. 
 Henry Clay, on the occasion of the death of his gallant 
 son at Buena Vista. As a composition it has received 
 the enthusiastic admiration of the leading authors and 
 < ritics of our country ; but its chief value consists in 
 those noble feelings of the heart by which it was dictated. 
 With this letter we close our present notice of General 
 Taylor's life, services, and character. It shines as a p 
 of mild but beaming lustre on his war-worn brow. 
 
 Head-Quarters Army of Occupation, i 
 Agiia Nueva, Mexico, March 1, 1847. J 
 
 My dear Sir : You will no doubt have received, be- 
 fore this can reach you, the deeply distressing intelli- 
 gence of the death of your son in the battle of Buena 
 Vista. It is with no wish of intruding upon the sanc- 
 tuary of parental sorrow, and with no hope of adminis- 
 tering any consolation to your wounded heart, that I have 
 taken the liberty of addressing you these few lines ; but 
 I have felt it a duty which I owe to the memory of the 
 distinguished dead, to pay a willing tribute to his many 
 excellent qualities, and while my feelings are still fresh, 
 to express the desolation which his untimely loss and 
 that of other kindred spirits has occasioned. 
 
 I had but a casual acquaintance with your son, until 
 he became for a time a member of my military family, 
 and I can truly say that no one ever won more rapidly 
 upon my regard, or established a more lasting claim to 
 my respect and esteem. Manly and honourable in every 
 impulse, with no feeling but for the honour of the service 
 and cf the country, he gave every assurance that in the 
 hour of need I could lean with confidence upon his sup- 
 port. Nor was I disappointed. Under the guidance of 
 himself and the lamented McKee, gallantly did the sons 
 
202 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 of Kentucky, in the thickest of the strife, uphold the 
 honour of the state and the country. 
 
 A grateful people will do justice to the memory of 
 those who fell on that eventful day. But I may be per- 
 mitted to express the bereavement which I feel in the 
 loss of valued friends. To your son I felt bound by the 
 strongest ties of private regard ; and when I miss his fa- 
 miliar face, and those of McKee and Hardin, I can say 
 with truth, that I feel no exultation in our success. 
 
 With the expression of my deepest and most heartfelt 
 sympathies for your irreparable loss, I remain, 
 
 Your friend, 
 
 Z. TAYLOR. 
 
 Hon. Henry Clay, New Orleans, La. 
 
 Encouraged by the apparent inactivity of General 
 Taylor, while encamped at the Walnut Springs, the 
 guerilla bands recommenced their depredations, which 
 had been suspended by the defeat at Buena Vista. In 
 order to intimidate them, the army was divided into two 
 portions, one remaining near Monterey, under the com- 
 mand of General Taylor, and the other, under General 
 Wool, encamped at Buena Vista. Washington's bat- 
 tery and two companies of United States dragoons were 
 stationed near Agua Nueva, and an outpost advanced to 
 the distance of fifteen miles, in order to guard against 
 attack. 
 
 On the 11th of April, a foraging party came in con- 
 tact with a party of lancers, who were hovering in their 
 rear during the greater part of the day ; and a few days 
 after, scouts reported the approach of General Urrea 
 with a party of cavalry. This worthy employed himself 
 in harassing the wagon trains, and in picking up indi- 
 vidual Americans along the road. The attack on the 
 
TAYLOR. 203 
 
 array, so long threatened, and so anxiously awaited by 
 our troops, he took good care not to make. 
 
 The intelligence of the fall of Vera Cruz was com- 
 municated to the army by General Taylor, in a special 
 order (No. 32), and received with great enthusiasm. 
 The disinterested and open-hearted tone which charac- 
 terizes this order, is another proof of that lofty feeling * 
 which places General Taylor so far above the petty jea- 
 lousies of which even great men are sometimes suscep- 
 tible. 
 
 The designs of the guerillas upon the American 
 forces were frustrated by heavy rains, which rendered 
 the roads almost impassable. During this interval Gen- 
 eral Wool was busily employed in drilling the new vol- 
 unteers. His exertions, however, were greatly impeded 
 by sickness, which broke out in the camp soon after the 
 battle of Buena Vista, and for a time, threatened the 
 dissolution of whole companies. 
 
 In the latter part of June, Urrea entered the town of 
 Matehuala, w T hich he stripped of all the provisions and 
 supplies he could find. His design was to attack a 
 baggage train of the Americans, soon to arrive at Mon- 
 terey ; but an unforeseen event disconcerted his measures. 
 Upwards of three hundred Indians made an irruption 
 into the vicinity, burned three ranchos, killed nearly one 
 hundred Mexicans, and carried away with them a con- 
 siderable quantity of provisions. This caused him to 
 evacuate Matehuala in haste and retire into the interior. 
 
 At this time General Minon was near Agua Nueva 
 with his cavalry ; but on hearing of the retreat of Urrea, 
 he retired towards Potosi. At his approach, about two 
 thousand Mexicans, who had been stationed at Zacate- 
 cas, left that place with precipitation and hurried towards 
 the capital. The guerilla parties gradually followed 
 
204 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 them, and the whole northern part of Mexico was left in 
 undisturbed possession of the Americans. 
 
 In order to take advantage of this favourable aspect 
 of affairs, General Taylor determined to concentrate his 
 forces, and make a rapid movement upon San Luis. 
 But in the midst of his preparations (August) he re- 
 ceived a requisition from the general-in-chief for another 
 portion of his troops, to assist in the intended attack 
 upon the capital. 
 
 By this order, the 13th United States regiment, with 
 the regiments of Ohio, Indiana, and Massachusetts, 
 under Generals Lane and Cushing, were directed to 
 proceed to Brazos Island, to embark from thence to 
 Vera Cruz. They were accompanied by Deas's battery 
 and a few mounted Texans. This reduced the whole 
 force between Brazos and Buena Vista to less than 5600 
 men, and obliged General Taylor to abandon his de- 
 signs upon San Luis. 
 
 Up to this date, (October, 1847,) the army of Gene- 
 ral Taylor remains in garrison at Monterey and Saltillo. 
 Had his force not been reduced before the battle of 
 Buena Vista, or had it been properly augmented imme- 
 diately after that brilliant affair, he might have captured 
 the whole army of Santa Anna, and followed up his ad- 
 vantages to the reduction of the capital itself. But cir- 
 cumstances, which it is not necessary to advert to at the 
 present time, have debarred him from the accomplish- 
 ment of these deserved triumphs ; and he who began 
 the war with so much splendor is now obliged to re- 
 main an inactive spectator. 
 
MAJOR- GENERAL "WILLIAM J. WORTH. 
 
WORTH. 
 
 i 
 
 General William J. Worth, who has so conspicu- 
 ously distinguished his name in the present war with 
 Mexico, is one of the sons of the Pilgrims. He belongs 
 to one of the oldest New England families. In early 
 life he was afforded the means of a solid English educa- 
 tion, and he so far availed himself of them, as to present 
 invariably the appearance of an accomplished as well as 
 able officer. 
 
 When quite young, Worth was engaged as a clerk in 
 some mercantile house at Albany; but the military 
 ardour, which forms a large element of his character, 
 induced him to enlist, just before the opening of the war 
 of 1812, as a private in the regular army. Another 
 clerk was his companion, in what must have been 
 esteemed by their friends a rather Quixotic enterprise. 
 It was not long before Worth's friend committed some 
 indiscretion and was placed under arrest. He was in 
 despair : Worth, instead of deserting him in his disgrace, 
 told him to pluck up courage, and address a memorial 
 to General (then Colonel) Scott, praying to be excused. 
 The poor fellow confessed his utter inability to write one. 
 " I will write one for you," says Worth ; and accord- 
 ingly it was done. When it was presented, General 
 Scott read it attentively and said to the delinquent, " Did 
 you write this paper ?" 
 
 "No, sir." 
 
 "Who did write it?" 
 
208 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 " Private Worth wrote it, sir." 
 
 u You are excused. Send Private Worth to me." 
 
 On receiving this notice, Worth was apprehensive that 
 he had got himself into a scrape, by attempting to get his 
 friend out of one. His astonishment therefore may be 
 imagined, when on presenting himself at the colonel's 
 quarters, the following short dialogue ensued. 
 
 " Are you Private Worth ?" 
 
 " I am, sir." 
 
 " Did you write this paper ?" (presenting him with the 
 memorial.) 
 
 " I did, sir." 
 
 " From henceforward, sir, you are my private secre- 
 tary." 
 
 Promotion from the government, obtained through the 
 influence of Scott, soon followed, and on the 19th of 
 March, 1812, he was commissioned as first lieutenant of 
 the 23d regiment of infantry. 
 
 His first opportunity for signalizing himself, was at 
 the battle of Chippewa. 
 
 It was on the morning of the 4th of July, 1814, 
 that General Scott advanced with his brigade and corps 
 of artillery, and took a position on the Chippewa plain, 
 half a mile in front of the village, his right resting on the 
 river, and his front protected by a ravine. The British 
 were encamped in force at the village. In the evening 
 General Brown joined him with the reserve under Gene- 
 ral Ripley, and the artillery, commanded by Major Hind- 
 man. General Porter arrived the next morning, with 
 the New York and Pennsylvania volunteers, and a num 
 ber of Indians of the Six Nations. Early in the morning 
 of the 5th, the British commenced a firing on the pick- 
 ets. Captain Treat, who commanded one of them, 
 hastily retreated, leaving one of his men wounded on 
 
WORTH. ^09 
 
 the ground. General Brown instantly ordered him to 
 retire from the army, and directed Captain Biddle to 
 assume the command of the picket, lead it back to the 
 ground, and bring oft* the wounded man ; which he 
 accomplished without loss. 
 
 At four in the afternoon, General Porter advanced, 
 taking the woods in order to conceal his approach, and 
 in the hope of bringing their pickets and scouting parties 
 between his line of march and the American camp. In 
 half an hour his advance met the light parties of the 
 British in the woods on the left. These were driven in, 
 and Porter, advancing near Chippewa, met the whole 
 British force approaching in order of battle. General 
 Scott, with his brigade and Towson's artillery, met them 
 on the plain, in front of the American encampment, and 
 was directly engaged in close action with the main body. 
 General Porter's command gave way, and fled in every 
 direction, by which Scott's left flank was entirely 
 uncovered. Captain Harris, with his dragoons, was 
 ordered to stop the fugitives at the ravine, and form 
 them in front of the camp. The reserve,, were now 7 
 ordered up, and General Ripley passed to the woods in 
 left of the line, to gain the rear of the enemy ; but before 
 this was effected. General Scott had compelled the Bri- 
 tish to retire. 
 
 Their whole line now fell back, and were eagerly pur- 
 sued by the Americans. As soon as they reached the 
 sloping ground descending towards the village, their 
 lines broke, and they regained their works in disorder. 
 The American troops pursued until within reach of the 
 guns from the works; when they desisted and returned 
 to their camp. The British left two hundred dead on 
 the ground; ninety-four wounded, beside those in the 
 early part of the action, who were removed back to the 
 
210 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 camp, and fourteen prisoners. The American loss was 
 sixty killed, and two hundred and sixty-eight wounded 
 and missing. 
 
 General Brown, in his official despatch giving the 
 details of this celebrated battle, says, the family of Gene- 
 ral Scott, (i. e. his aids, secretary, &c.), were conspicu- 
 ous in the field. Lieutenant Smith, of the 6th infantry, 
 the major of the brigade, and Lieutenants Worth and 
 Watts, his aids. 
 
 Promotion was the reward of Worth's services on 
 this occasion. His commission as captain bears date 
 August 19th, 1814. 
 
 We will now 7 follow the course of events to his next 
 promotion. 
 
 After the battle of Chippewa, the British retired to 
 Fort George ; and General Brown took post at Queens- 
 town, where he remained sometime, expecting reinforce- 
 ments and aid from Sackett's Harbour, and calculating 
 that with them he should be able to dislodge the British 
 and obtain possession of the Peninsula. 
 
 On the 1.2th of July, Brigadier-General John Swift, 
 of the New York militia, with a detachment of 120 
 volunteers, reconnoitered the British position and 
 works at Fort George, with a view of preparing for 
 an investment of the fort. He surprised and took a 
 picket guard of six men. After they were made priso- 
 ners, one of them shot the general through the body. 
 The alarm occasioned by the discharge of this gun, im- 
 mediately brought to the spot a British patroling party of 
 sixty. General Swift immediately formed his men, 
 advanced at their head, and commenced a successful 
 engagement on the patrol, when he fell exhausted by 
 the loss of blood ; the other officers, animated by this 
 last example of their general, continued the action, and 
 
WORTH. 
 
 211 
 
 drove the enemy into the fort. They then returned to 
 camp, bearing their expiring commander in their arms. 
 He died the same evening, and was interred the next clay 
 with military honours. 
 
 On the 13th of July, General Brown wrote a pressing 
 letter to Commodore Chauncey, informing him of his 
 situation, and urging an immediate co-operation. He 
 heard nothing from the fleet until the 1st of September, 
 when he received an answer from the commodore, dated 
 the 10th of August, stating that the fleet had not been 
 in a situation to co-operate with him, that it could have 
 afforded him no-essential aid in any event; that his fleet 
 was destined to attack the British, and not to act a 
 subordinate part to the land forces. This produced a 
 sharp reply from General Brown ; the correspondence 
 ended ; and the general and commodore pursued their 
 different objects without any co-operation. 
 
 On the 18th, Lieutenant-Colonel Stone was detached 
 with a corps of volunteers to dislodge a party of British 
 troops, who were near the village of St. David's, four 
 miles west of Queenstown, watching and attacking the 
 American reconnoitering parties. The British were 
 routed and driven in ; and soon after the action, the 
 village was set fire to, and burned by some Americans, 
 without the orders or knowledge of the commanding 
 officer. On the next morning, Colonel Stone received 
 f an order from General Brown, stating that the accounta- 
 bility for burning the houses at St. David's must rest 
 with the senior officer : that it was directly contrary to 
 the orders of government, and of the commanding 
 general. The order concludes in these words : " Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel Stone will retire from the army." 
 Whether Colonel Stone was guilty of negligence in 
 not preventing the conflagration, does not appear. But 
 
'J,\l TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 his friends c )nsidered this proceeding, as a manifest 
 usurpation of authority not warranted by any law ; they 
 claimed that an officer, holding a commission under the 
 president, holds it at the pleasure of the supreme execu- 
 tive, and no intermediate superior officer has a right to 
 deprive him of his command, without the intervention 
 of a court-martial, where he may be tried by his peers, 
 and have an opportunity of establishing his innocence. 
 No person fit to bear a commission, would consent to hold 
 one subject to the disgraceful condition of a dismissal 
 at the will of an officer a grade or two above him. This 
 conduct of General Brown's passed without censure, 
 and was alluded to with approbation, in a letter from the 
 secretary of state to Admiral Cochran. 
 
 On the 20th, General Brown advanced with his army 
 towards Fort George, drove in the outposts, and encamped 
 near the Fort, in the expectation that the British would 
 come out and give him battle. On the 22d, he returned 
 to his former position at Queenstown ; here he received a 
 letter from General Gaines, informing him that the heavy 
 guns, and the rifle regiment, which he had ordered from 
 Sackett's Harbour, together with the whole fleet, were 
 blockaded in that port, and no assistance was to be 
 expected from them. On the 24th, he fell back to Chip- 
 pewa, and on the 25th, received intelligence that the 
 enemy, having received large reinforcements from King- 
 ston, were advancing upon him. The first brigade under 
 General Scott, Towson's artillery, all the dragoons and 
 mounted men, were immediately put in motion on the 
 Queenstown road. 
 
 On his arrival at the Niagara cataract,. General Scott 
 learned that the British were in force directly in his front, 
 separated only by a narrow piece of wood. Having 
 despatched this int diligence to General Brown, he ad- 
 
 ! 
 
WORTH. 2 1 3 
 
 vanced upon the enemy, and the action commenced at 
 six o'clock in the afternoon. Although General Ripley 
 with the second brigade, Major Hendman with the corps 
 of artillery, and General Porter with the .volunteers, 
 pressed forward with ardour, it was an hour before they 
 could be brought up to his support; during this time his 
 brigade alone sustained the conflict. General Scott had 
 pressed through the wood, and engaged the British on 
 the Queenstown road, with the 9th, 11th, and 12th 
 regiments, the 25th having been thrown on the right. 
 The fresh troops under General Ripley having arrived, 
 now advanced to relieve General Scott, whose exhausted 
 brigade formed a reserve in the rear. The British artil- 
 lery had taken post on a commanding eminence, at the 
 head of Lundy's Lane, supported by a line of infantry, 
 out of the reach of the American batteries. This was the 
 key of the whole position ; from hence they poured a 
 most deadly fire on the American ranks. It became 
 necessary either to leave the ground, or to carry this post 
 and seize the height. The latter desperate task was 
 assigned to Colonel Miller. 
 
 On receiving the order from General Brown, he calmly 
 surveyed the position, and answered, " I w t ill try, sir ;" 
 which expression was afterwards the motto of his regi- 
 ment. The first regiment, under the command of Colo- 
 nel Nicholas, were ordered to menace the British infan- 
 try, and support Colonel Miller in the attack. Thi'j 
 corps, after a discharge or two, gave way and left him 
 without support. Without regarding this occurrence, 
 Colonel Miller advanced coolly and steadily to his 
 object, amid a tremendous fire, and at the point of the 
 bayonet carried the artillery and the height. The guns 
 were immediately turned upon the enemy ; General 
 Ripley now brought up the 23d reg ment, to the support 
 
214 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 of Colonel Miller ; the first regiment was rallied and 
 brought into line, and the British were driven from the 
 hill. At this time Major Jessup, with the 25th regi- 
 ment, was engaged in a most obstinate conflict, with all 
 the British that remained on the field. He had suc- 
 ceeded in turning the British left flank. Captain 
 Ketchum, with a detachment of this regiment, succeeded 
 in gaining the rear of the British lines, at the point 
 where Generals Drummond and Riall, with their suites, 
 had taken their stations, and made them all prisoners. 
 The British officers, mistaking this detachment for a 
 company of their own men, were ordering them to press 
 on to the combat, when Captain Ketchum stepped 
 forward and coolly observed, that he had the honour to 
 command at that time, and immediately conducted the 
 officers and their suites, into the rear of the American 
 lines ; General Drummond, in the confusion of the 
 scene, made his escape. 
 
 The British rallied under the hill, and made a despe- 
 rate attempt to regain their^irtillery, and drive the Ameri- 
 cans from their position, but without success ; a second 
 and third attempt were made with the like result. General 
 Scott was engaged in repelling these attacks, and though 
 with his shoulder fractured, and a severe wound in the 
 side, continued at the head of his column, endeavour- 
 ing to turn the enemy's right flank. The volunteers 
 under General Porter, during the last charge of the 
 British, precipitated themselves upon their lines, broke 
 them, and took a large number of prisoners. General 
 Brown, during the whole action, was at the most ex- 
 posed points, directing and animating his troops. He 
 received a severe wound on the thigh, and in the side, 
 and would have given the eommai d to General Scott, 
 but on inquiring, found that he wa G severely wounded. 
 
WORTH. 215 
 
 He continued at the head of his troops until the last 
 effort of the British was repulsed, when loss of blood 
 obliged him to retire ; he then consigned the command 
 to General Ripley. At twelve o'clock, both parties 
 retired from the field to their respective encampments, 
 fatigued and satiated with slaughter. The battle con- 
 tinued, with but little intermission, from six in the after 
 noon until twelve at night. 
 
 After Colonel Miller had taken the battery, and driven 
 the British from the heights, and General Riall and suite 
 had been taken, there was a short cessation, and the 
 enemy appeared to be about yielding the ground, w T hen 
 reinforcements arrived to their aid, and the battle was 
 renewed with redoubled fury for another space of two 
 hours ; much of this time the combatants were w r ithin a 
 few yards of each other, and several times, officers were 
 found commanding enemy platoons. Captain Spencer, 
 aid to General Brown, w 7 as despatched with orders to 
 one of the regiments ; when about to deliver them, he 
 suddenly found himself in contact with a British corps ; 
 with great coolness, and a firm air, he inquired, What 
 regiment is this ? On being answered, The Royal Scots, 
 he immediately replied, Royal Scots, remain as you are ! 
 The commandant of the corps, supposing the orders 
 came from his commanding general, immediately halted 
 his regiment, and Captain Spencer rode off. Colonel 
 Miller's achievement, in storming the battery, was of the 
 most brilliant and hazardous nature ; it was decisive of 
 the events of the battle, and entitled him and his corps 
 to the highest applause ; most of the officers engaged in 
 that enterprise were killed or wounded. The battle was 
 fought to the west of, and within half a mile of the 
 Niagara cataract. The thunler of the cannon, the roar- 
 ing of the falls, the incessan* discharge of musketry, the 
 14 
 
216 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 gioans of the dying and wounded, daring the six hours 
 in which the parties were engaged in close combat, 
 heightened by the circumstance of its being in the night, 
 afforded such a scene, as is rarely to be met with in the 
 history of human slaughter. The evening was calm, and 
 the moon shone with lustre, when not enveloped in 
 clouds of smoke from the firing of the contending armies. 
 Considering the numbers engaged, few T contests have 
 ever been more sanguinary. 
 
 General Drummond, soon after the battle of the 5tl , 
 had been concentrating his forces, and receiving rein- 
 forcements from Kingston, for a general attack on the 
 American troops, and in the battle of the 25th, they were 
 all engaged, to the amount of 5000 ; many of them troops 
 selected from the flower of the army of Lord Wellington. 
 General Brown had failed in receiving his expected rein- 
 forcements from Sackett's Harbour ; many of his Indians 
 had left him, and most of his troops were soldiers of less 
 than one year's experience. But the general had done 
 everything which his limited means could accomplish to 
 insure success. With the aid of General Porter, he had 
 assembled a considerable force of militia and volunteers ; 
 his whole army may be estimated at about 4000. With 
 the aid of his officers, he had instructed, and infused into 
 them a spirit of bravery and discipline, which enabled 
 them to meet and successfully combat British veterans. 
 This was unquestionably the most severe and bloody 
 battle that was fought during the war. One-fifth of the 
 combatants on each side, were put hors de combat. On 
 the American side, the commanding general and the 
 second in command were severely wounded. On the 
 British, their commander-in-chief was wounded, and for 
 a few minutes a prisoner, and the second in command 
 
WORTH. 217 
 
 severely wounded and captured. General Brown states 
 
 his loss to be, 
 
 Killed, 171 
 
 Wounded, 572 
 
 Missing, 117 
 
 860 
 General Drumrnona acknowledges a loss of, 
 
 Killed, 84 
 
 Wounded, 559 
 
 Missing and Prisoners, - 235 
 
 878 
 On the morning of the 26th, Generals Ripley and 
 Porter reconnoitered the battle-ground, and found there 
 parties of the British on the same errand. Neither 
 Americans nor British appeared disposed to renew the 
 bloody scenes of the preceding night. In their official 
 reports, both claimed the victory. But considering the 
 number and nature of American troops compared with 
 the British, the honours of the day unquestionably 
 belong to the former ; the latter were the first to leave 
 the field. From the reinforcements which they had re- 
 cently received from Kingston, their army after the bat 
 tie was evidently superior to the American ; and the 
 latter, under the command of General Ripley, on the 26th, 
 fell back to Fort Erie. General Brown retired to Buf- 
 falo, and General Scott to Batavia, to recover from their 
 wounds. Captain Ambrose bpencer, son of the chief 
 justice of New- York, and aid to General Brown, was 
 mortally wounded in the action, and taken prisoner; 
 Captain Loring, aid to General Drummond, was also 
 made prisoner, but not wounded. 
 
 Soon after the battle, General Brown received a pro- 
 
218 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 position from General Drummond, for a mutual exchange 
 of their aids. For obvious reasons, it is not according 
 to the usages of war to offer or accept a wounded man 
 in exchange for one who is well ; but from motives of 
 affection for his aid, and from respect to the feelings of 
 his parents, General Brown was in this instance induced 
 to listen to the proposition, and sent a flag to ascertain 
 whether Captain Spencer was living. The flag was not 
 permitted to see the prisoner, or communicate with his 
 surgeon. On the return of the fkg, General Brown sent 
 the brother of- Captain Spencer, with a note to General 
 Drummond, introducing the brother, and requesting that 
 he might be permitted to see and attend upon him, and 
 assuring the general that Captain Loring should be 
 exchanged for Captain Spencer if living, or for his 
 corpse if dead. The brother returned the next day with the 
 corpse, bearing a note from General Drummond, claim- 
 ing the discharge of Captain Loring; which General 
 Brown, faithful to his engagements, complied with. 
 
 Captain Worth, like his patron General Scott, received 
 a severe wound in this battle, which compelled him to 
 remain inactive during the stirring events which fol- 
 lowed it. He was, however, rewarded for his good 
 conduct in the action by being promoted to the rank of 
 major. 
 
 xA-fter the peace he w T as for a considerable time super- 
 intendent of the Military Academy at West Point, an 
 office which would only be confide.i to one in whose 
 discretion, judgment, ability, and high gentlemanly de- 
 portment, the government reposed unlimited confidence. 
 
 Worth was promoted to the rank of lieutenant-colonel 
 by brevet, on the 25th of July 1824, and was appointed 
 major of ordnance in 1832. On the 7th of July, 1838, 
 
WORTH. 219 
 
 he was appointed colonel in the 8th regiment of in- 
 fantry. 
 
 The war in Florida, which furnished occasion for a 
 display of General Taylor's military skill and intrepidity 
 also presented a theatre on which Colonel Worth was 
 destined to figure. The service was one of the mist 
 tedious and unpleasant which could possibly be imposed 
 upon an ardent soldier, desirous of winning distinction ; 
 for it consisted in hunting up the lurking-places of au 
 insidious and savage enemy, and driving him into action. 
 The Seminoles had eluded pursuit for a long time pre- 
 vious to May 1841, when the conduct of the war was 
 intrusted to Colonel Worth. Sickness among the men 
 impeded his operations, but he was soon able to compel 
 the surrender of several considerable detachments of hos- 
 tile Indians ; and on the 19th of April, 1842, he succeeded 
 in compelling a large body of Indians to fight at a place 
 called Palaklaklaha. The result, as might have been 
 anticipated, was a complete defeat of the enemy, which 
 was soon after followed by the surrender of one of the 
 leading chiefs of the Indians with his band. 
 
 Colonel Worth had already received (March 1st, 
 1842) the appointment of brigadier-general by brevet. 
 
 After the battle of Palaklaklaha, the Florida war 
 was speedily brought to a close, for the time ; and Gen- 
 eral Worth was ordered to another post ; but, hostilities 
 again breaking out, he was again ordered to Florida ; 
 but his subsequent service there afforded him no oppor- 
 tunity for distinction. 
 
 Previous to the breaking out of open hostilities be- 
 tween Mexico and the United States, General Worth 
 being attached to the Army of Occupation, deemed it 
 necessary, upon some pomt of military etiquette, to re- 
 sign his commission. He f hus unluckily missed the 
 
220 TAYIOR AND Hlb GENERALS. 
 
 battles of Palo Alto and Resaca de la Palma. With 
 feelings highly honourable to him as a soldier, he in- 
 stantly withdrew his resignation ; and, being restored to 
 the army, repaired with all ha^te to General Taylor's 
 camp at Matamoras, to share the honours and dangers 
 of the veteran commander. 
 
 Of course General Worth was extremely anxious for 
 an opportunity of signalizing himself in the subsequent 
 operations of the army, and this General Taylor was 
 determined to afford him. The opportunity speedily 
 presented itself at Monterey, where Worth was honoured 
 with a commission of the greatest importance, that of 
 carrying the heights which commanded the place, and 
 which would have proved completely impregnable to a 
 less resolute commander. 
 
 On the 19th of September, General Taylor arriveJ 
 before Monterey with about 6000 men. He reconnoi- 
 tered the city at about 1500 to 1600 yards from the 
 Cathedral front, during which he was fired upon from 
 the battery. His force then encamped at the Walnut 
 Springs, three miles short of the city. This was the 
 nearest position where the army could obtain a supply of 
 water and bread, and, at the same time, be beyond the 
 reach of the enemy's batteries. The remainder of the 
 19th was occupied by the engineers in making reeonnois- 
 sances of the city batteries and commanding heights. On 
 the 20th, General Worth was ordered with his division to 
 move by a circuitous route to the right, to gain the Saltillo 
 road, beyond the west of the town, and to storm the heights 
 above the Bishop's Palace, which vital point the enemv 
 appeared to have strangely neglected. Circumstances 
 caused his halt on the night of the 20th, short of the 
 intended position. 
 
 On Monday, the 21st, he continued his route, and 
 
WORTH. 221 
 
 after an encounter with a large body of the enemy's 
 cavalry and infantry, supported by artillery from the 
 heights, he repulsed them with loss, and finally encamped, 
 covering the passage of the Saltillo road. It was here dis- 
 covered that, beside the fort at the Bishop's Palace, and 
 the occupation of the heights above, two forts on com- 
 manding eminences on the opposite side of the San Juan 
 had been fortified and occupied. These two latter 
 heights were then stormed and carried — the guns of the 
 last fort carried being immediately turned with a plunging 
 fire upon the Bishop's Palace. 
 
 On the same morning, the 21st, the 1st division of 
 regular troops, under General Twiggs, and the volun- 
 teer division, under General Butler, were ordered under 
 arms, to make a diversion to the left of the town, in 
 favour of the important operations of General Worth. 
 The twenty-inch mortars and two twenty-four pound 
 howitzers, had been put in battery the night of the 20th, 
 in a ravine of 1400 yards distant from the Cathedral 
 fort or citadel, and were supported by the 4th regiment 
 of infantry. 
 
 At half-past eight o'clock, A. M., on the 21st, the 
 order was given for this battery to open upon the cita- 
 del and town; and immediately after, the 1st division, 
 with the 3d and 4th infantry in advance, under Colonel 
 Garland, were ordered to reconnoitre and skirmish 
 with the enemy, on the extreme left of the city, and, 
 should prospect of success offer, to carry the most ad- 
 vanced battery. This attack was directed by Major 
 Mansfield, Engineer, and Major Kinney, quartermaster 
 to the Texas division. A heavy fire from the first bat- 
 tery was then opened upon the advance, but the troops 
 soon turned. At entering and engaging with the enemy, 
 in the streets of the city, having passed through an 
 
222 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 incessant cross fire from the citadel and the first and 
 second batteries, ara from the infantry, who lined the 
 parapets, streets, and house-tops of the city, the rear ol 
 the first battery was soon turned, and the reverse fire of 
 -he troops through the gorge works, and killed or dis- 
 lodged the aitillery and infantry from it, and the build- 
 ings occupied by infantry immediately in its rear. The 
 1st division was followed and supported by the Missis- 
 sippi, and Tennessee, and first Ohio regiments ; the two 
 former regiments being the first to scale and occupy the 
 fort. The success of the day here stopped. The Mis- 
 sissippi, Tennessee, and Ohio regiments, though warmly 
 engaged in the streets for some time after the capture of 
 the first battery, and in its adjoining defences, were 
 unable, from exhaustion and the loss they had suffered, 
 to gain more advantage. 
 
 A heavy shower of rain also came up, and caused a 
 suspension of hostilities before the close of the day. The 
 3d, 4th, and 1st infantry, and Baltimore battalion, re- 
 mained as the garrison of the captured position, under 
 Colonel Garland, assisted by Captain Ridgely's battery. 
 Two twelve-pounders, one four-pounder, and one how- 
 itzer were captured in this fort. 
 
 Three officers and some twenty or thirty men were 
 taken prisoners. One of the twelve-pounders was served 
 against the second fort and defences, with captured am- 
 munition, by Captain Ridgely. The storming party of 
 General Worth's division also captured two nine-pound- 
 ers, which were also immediately turned against their 
 former owners. 
 
 On the mornine of the 22d, General Worth continued 
 his operations, and portions of his division stormed and 
 carried successively the heights above the Bishop's 
 Palace. Both were :arried by a command under Cap- 
 
WORTH. 223 
 
 tain Vinton, of the 3d irtillery. In these operations, the 
 company of Louisiana troops, under Captain Blanchard, 
 performed efficient and gallant service as part of Captain 
 Vinton's command. 
 
 Four pieces of artillery, with a good supply of ammu- 
 nition, were captured in the Bishop's Palace, some of 
 which were immediately turned upon the enemy's de- 
 fences in the city. 
 
 On the evening of the 22d, Colonel Garland and his 
 command were relieved as the garrison of the captured 
 forts, by General Quitman, with the Mississippi and 
 Tennessee regiments, with five companies of the Kentucky 
 boys. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 23d, General Qui! man, 
 from his position, discovered that the second and third 
 forts and defences east of the city had been entirely 
 abandoned by the enemy, who, apprehending another 
 assault, on the night of the 22d, had retired from his 
 defences to the main palace and its immediate vicinity. 
 A command of two companies of Mississippi and two of 
 Tennessee troops were thrown into the street to recon- 
 noitre, and soon became hotly engaged with the enemy. 
 
 They were soon supported by Colonel Wood's regi- 
 ment and the Texas regiment dismounted ; by Bragg's 
 light battery and the third infantry. The enemy's fire 
 was constant and uninterrupted from streets and house- 
 tops, barricades, &c, in the vicinity of the Plaza. The 
 pieces of Bragg's artillery were also used with much effi- 
 ciency from the heart of the c'ty. This engagement lasted 
 the best part of the day ; our troops having driven the 
 scattered parties of the enemy, and penetrated quite to the 
 defences of the main Plaza. The advantage thus gained 
 it was not considered necessary to hold, as the enemy had 
 permanently abandoned the :ity and its defences, except 
 
TAYLOfi AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 the main Plaza, its immediate vicinity, and the cathedral 
 fort or citadel, early in the afternoon. 
 
 General Worth assailed from the Bishop's Palace the 
 west side of the city, and succeeded in driving the enemy 
 and maintaining his position within a short distance of 
 the main Plaza. On that side of the city, towards 
 evening, the mortar had also been planted in the ceme- 
 tery enclosed, and during the fight, it did great execution 
 in the circumscribed camp of the enemy on the Plaza. 
 Thus ended the operations of the 23d. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 24th, a communication 
 was sent to General Taylor from General Ampudia, 
 under a flag of truce, making an ofTer of capitulation — 
 to which the former refused to accede, as it asked more 
 than the American commander would, under any circum- 
 stances, grant. [General A. wished to stipulate that 
 he should march out with all his men, arms, ammuni- 
 tion, &c] At the same time, a demand to surrender 
 was, in reply, made upon General Ampudia. Twelve 
 o'clock, M., was the time at which the acceptance or 
 non-acceptance was to be communicated to the Ameri- 
 can general. At eleven A. M., the Mexican commander 
 sent a note requesting a personal conference with Gen- 
 eral Taylor, which was granted, — the principal officers 
 of rank on either side accompanying the generals. 
 
 After several offers in relation to the capitulation of 
 the city, made on either side and refused, at half-past 
 four P. M., General Taylor rose, and saying he would 
 give General Ampudia one hour to consider, and accept 
 or refuse, left the conference with his officers — at the 
 expiration of the hour, the discharge from the mortars 
 to be the signal for the recommencement of hostilities. 
 
 Before the expiration of the hour, however, an officer 
 was sent on the part of General Ampudia, to inform the 
 American general that, in order to avoid the further efTu- 
 
WOK 111. 225 
 
 sion of blood, and the national honour being satisfied by 
 the exertions of the Mexican troops, he had, after con- 
 sultation with his general officers, decided to capitulate, 
 accepting the offer of the American general. 
 
 The terms of capitulation were in effect as follows : 
 That the officers should be allowed to march out with 
 their side-arms ; that the cavalry and infantry should be 
 allowed to march out with their arms and accoutrements ; 
 that the artillery should be allowed to march out with 
 one battery of six pieces and twenty-one rounds of am- 
 munition ; that all other munitions of war and supplies 
 should be turned over to a board of American officers 
 appointed to receive them ; that the Mexican army should 
 be allowed seven days to evacuate the city, and that the 
 American troops should not occupy it until evacuated ; 
 that the cathedral fort or citadel should be evacuated at 
 ten A. M. next day, the 25th. The Mexicans were then 
 to march out, and the American garrison to march in. 
 The Mexicans were allowed to salute their flag when 
 hauled down ; that there should be an armistice of eight 
 weeks, during w T hich time neither army should pass a 
 line running from the Rinconada through Linares and 
 San Fernando. 
 
 The only Baltimorean or Philadelphian in the list of 
 killed or wounded, is Colonel W. W. H. Watson, of 
 Baltimore. 
 
 Ampudia reported his force as 7000. It is estimated 
 at 11,000. The forts that were taken were occupied by 
 Ridgely's artillery, who turned the captured pieces 
 against the Mexican forces, and the firing was kept up 
 during the day. 
 
 During the whole of this severe siege, General Worth 
 displayed the most perfect coolness and intrepidity. His 
 services were properly appreciated by the government ; 
 for on the 3d of March, 1847, he was raised to the 
 
226 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 rank of major-general by brevet, his commission being 
 dated from the storming of Monterey. 
 
 In our notice of the life of General Taylor, we have 
 already informed the reader, that after the capture of 
 Monterey, General Worth was stationed at Saltillo, 
 where he remained until the middle of January, when he 
 received orders to march with the main body of the > 
 regular forces and volunteers, which had been under his 
 own and General Taylor's command, in order to join the 
 expedition of General Scott, intended for the capture of 
 Vera Cruz. 
 
 A full and accurate history of the operations of the 
 army and fleet, in the siege of Vera Cruz, will be given 
 in our notice of General Scott, the commander-in-ehief 
 of the American armies in Mexico. General Worth bore 
 a conspicuous part in the siege, and was present at the 
 grand ceremony of the surrender. 
 
 The 29th was fixed upon as the day upon which our 
 army should take possession ; and on the morning of that 
 day, General Scott, with General Worth and his divi- 
 sion, accompanied by the chief officers of the army and 
 a large representation from the squadron, entered and 
 took possession, the enemy at the same time marching 
 out. As the American flag was hoisted at the Plaza, 
 and over San Juan de Ulloa, salutes were fired simulta- 
 neously from the castle, the batteries of the city, ami the 
 squadron. General Scott immediately took up his quar- 
 ters in the Palace, and invested General Worth with the 
 command of the city, assigning at the same time the 
 command of the castle to Colonel Bolton ; that of Fort 
 Jago, at the southern extremity of the city, to Major 
 Scott. Gen.'Worth however, was not destined to remain 
 long in the dull routine of garrison duty ; but soon after 
 took up his line of march for the ci.y of Mexico, leaving 
 V<Tn Cruz untfeT the government of Colonel Wilson. 
 
WORTH. 227 
 
 He was so fortunate as to bring his division up in 
 season to take a share in the brilliant battle of Cerro 
 Gordo, which took place on the 17th and 18th of April. 
 
 The share which General Worth and his division took 
 in supporting the brilliant attack of the Mexican bat- 
 teries by General Twiggs, will appear in the following 
 extracts from a graphic account of the battle communi- 
 cated by one of the Pennsylvania volunteers to the 
 publishers of the Philadelphia Ledger. 
 
 Plan del Rio, April 19 th } 1847. 
 
 We have just achieved a most glorious victory. Yes- 
 terday afternoon Santa Anna's army of 15,000 men, 
 posted in the hitherto impregnable pass of Vaechi, or 
 Cerro Gordo, and upon the field of one of that general's 
 most brilliant and successful efforts, were defeated, their 
 intrenched camp, with 6000 prisoners, five general 
 officers, and about thirty pieces of artillery captured, 
 and he himself, with the broken and terror-stricken 
 remnant of his army, driven as fugitives beyond the 
 gates of Jalapa. Our loss does not exceed 500 killed 
 and wounded, and it probably does not reach that 
 amount. 
 
 General Twiggs commenced the action day before 
 yesterday, the 17th, by making a detour of seven miles 
 and taking up a position on an eminence at or near Cerro 
 Gordo, in the rear, or rather flank of the enemy's lines. 
 General Worth's whole division had in the mean time 
 arrived, and was despatched to support Twiggs on the 
 enemy's left. The attack upon his right was given to 
 General Patterson's division of volunteers, to which I 
 belong. 
 
 The opening of Twiggs's batteries on the morning of 
 the 18th. was the signal for our brigade, commanded 
 
228 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 ' by General Pillow, to move. The first Pennsylvania 
 and second Tennessee regiments led the van, to which 
 the first Temesseeans and .he second Pennsylvanians 
 formed a supporting column. Orders had been given to 
 our troops not to lire till the word of command had 
 been given, and most rigidly were the orders obeyed. 
 Although exposed to the most galling fire, the shot fall- 
 ing like hail among us, and cutting off the limbs of the 
 trees over and around us, yet when we had taken our 
 position to be ready to charge the intrenchments, not a 
 musket had been emptied. A more signal piece of gal- 
 lantry and coolness never before was displayed by the 
 most well-tried and veteran troops. At this moment, 
 General Pillow was wounded in the arm and left the 
 field. We waited in position for half an hour without 
 orders, when at length we received an order to move 
 away, lest we should be raked by three pieces of artil- 
 lery which commanded our flank, and which, but for the 
 consternation of the enemy, would have cut us all to- 
 pieces. We moved about twenty yards down the hill, 
 when we discovered a party of the enemy gaining, as 
 we thought, our rear, but soon found that it was a flag 
 of truce. Our reconnoiterers reported also that a white 
 flag was waving over the intrenchments, and that Santa 
 Anna had retreated with the loss of all his artillery, 
 that 6000 or 7000 of his troops had surrendered prisoners 
 of war. We marched down to the camp with our blue 
 home-made Pennsylvania flag, borne by Sergeant Mat- 
 thew Gilfry, waving in triumph, escorting trn 6000 
 prisoners to a place of security. 
 
 On the 22d of April, four days after the battle of 
 Cerro Gordo, General Worth entered the town of Pe- 
 rote. The castle of this place, next to that of San Juan 
 de Ulloa, is, perhaps, the strongest in Mexico, and with 
 
WORTH. 229 
 
 a proper garrison, might have baffled the utmost efforts 
 of the general's division. It contained fifty- four pieces 
 of artillery, five hundred muskets, fourteen thousand 
 bombs, and eleven thousand cannon balls ; all of which 
 fell into the hands of the Americans, without a single 
 blow struck for their preservation. The Spanish fore- 
 fathers of these Mexicans,* the heroes of Saguntum 
 and Saragossa, had another way of defending fortified 
 cities. 
 
 After this event, nothing of importance transpired 
 until the 15th of May, when General Worth appeared 
 before Puebla. At his approach, a body of lancers 
 under Santa Anna advanced from the city, and a slight 
 skirmish took place, in which several of the Mexicans 
 were killed. Santa Anna having, out of deference to 
 public sentiment, made this trumpery show of opposi- 
 tion, incontinently retreated without beat of drum. 
 General Worth took possession of the city. 
 
 In the subsequent march towards the city of Mexico, 
 General Worth led the advance of the army, making 
 the necessary reconnoissances, and carefully scouring the 
 country, to guard against surprise. On the 18th of 
 August, after reaching San Augustin, he marched up 
 the main road towards the capital, still keeping a small 
 reconnoitring party in advance. A battery from San 
 Antonio fired upon this party, killing Captain Thorn- 
 ton and wounding a guide. General Worth then with- 
 drew the videttes, and stationed his division at the 
 hacienda of Cureca, where they passed the night. 
 
 In the morning, General Scott, accompanied by 
 General Worth, and one-half of his division, left the 
 hacienda to assist in the storming of Contreras, which the 
 Americans had not been able to carry on the preceding 
 day. On the road he learned that it had already been 
 
230 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 captured ; and General Worth was accordingly sent 
 back. On his return he attacked San Antonio on both 
 sides, and carried it after an obstinate resistance. 
 Uniting his forces with those of General Tw-iggs, he 
 then pursued the enemy until within range of Churu- 
 busco, the strongest post of the enemy, commanding 
 a steep hill, and garrisoned with the flower of the 
 Mexican troops. The church and other public build- 
 ings were scaffolded for infantry, of which thousands 
 lined the walls, roofs, and windows. After a heavy 
 cannonading and brisk fire of musketry, the Americans 
 carried all the works at the point of the bayonet, and 
 drove the enemy to the very gates of Mexico. 
 
 This closed the duties of General Worth for this 
 bloody day; and the subsequent armistice and negotia- 
 tions for peace afforded the weary troops a short respite. 
 This, however, appears to have been a mere pretext of 
 Santa Anna for gaining time. The negotiations were 
 eventually unsatisfactory, each general-in-chief charged 
 the other with violating the truce, and on the 8th day 
 of September hostilities were renewed with redoubled 
 vigor and animosity ; but it was not till the 15th that 
 the city finally fell into the hands of the Americans. 
 
BRIGADIER-GENERAL JOHN E. WOOL. 
 
WOOL. 
 
 Of all Taylor's generals, the hero who seconded his 
 efforts so nobly in the ever memorable battle of Bu'ena 
 Vista, seems to possess the largest share of his respect 
 and confidence. An examination of the military career 
 of this distinguished officer will show that this respect 
 and confidence are by no means misplaced ; and that in 
 this as well as in everything else which is publicly known 
 of him, General Taylor exhibits sound judgment and 
 good taste. 
 
 Brigadier- General John E. Wool is a native of the 
 state of New York. His family were whigs of the 
 revolution. He was born in Orange county; but his 
 home has been in Rensselaer county since his early 
 childhood. Having lost his father at that period, he 
 was taken in charge by his grandfather, with whom he 
 lived till he was twelve years of age. He then removed 
 to the city of Troy — where his family now dwell — to 
 acquire a knowledge of business, with a view to his 
 becoming a merchant. In that city he prosecuted this 
 profession with success, until the loss of his property by 
 fire gave a different direction to the energy which dis- 
 tinguished him as a merchant. He accepted a commis- 
 sion as captain in the 13th regiment of United States 
 infantry, and entered at once upon that career which 
 was best suited to the developement of his remarkable 
 talent and force of character. 
 
 His commission bears date April, 1812. Having 
 raised a company in Troy, he made his military debut 
 
234 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 at the battle of Queenstown Heights. Previous to that 
 remarkable action, our army had suffered so many re- 
 verses as to occasion the imputation of misconduct and 
 cowardice against our officers and troops, and therefore 
 it was thought necessary to make some brilliant effort in 
 order to redeem their character, and to raise in the 
 country a proper spirit for prosecuting the war. 
 
 Accordingly, Major-General Stephen Van Rensselaer, 
 who had received the command of the militia of the 
 state of New York on the Niagara frontier, and had 
 established his head-quarters at Lewiston, determined 
 to storm the heights of Queenstown, a formidable post, 
 fortified and held by a part of the British army. A first 
 detachment of six hundred men were despatched on this 
 hazardous service, under the command of Colonel Van 
 Rensselaer, aid-de-camp to the general, and Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Chrystie. In the detachment were Captain 
 Wool and three companies of the 13th. When they 
 arrived at the Niagara river, it was found that there was 
 not a sufficient number of boats to transport more than 
 half of them. Van Rensselaer crossed. Chrystie re- 
 mained behind; but the three companies of the 13th, 
 which were part of his command, accompanied Van 
 Rensselaer. Their captains were Wool, Malcolm, and 
 Armstrong. On Captain Wool the command of these 
 devolved, and never did young officer and soldiers bear 
 themselves more gallantly under the most trying circum- 
 stances. A band of fewer than three hundred were 
 about to attack a position of extraordinary strength. 
 Their setting foot on the Canadian side of the river was 
 the signal for a tremendous fire from the enemy. But 
 onward and upward they struggled. In the desperate 
 encounter nearly every officer and many of the soldiers 
 in Captain Wool's command were killed or wounded. 
 
wool. 235 
 
 He himself was shot through both thighs. But now was 
 not the time to yield. Colonel Van Rensselaer was 
 supposed to be mortally wounded, and was fast sinking 
 from loss of blood. Wool sought him and requested 
 permission to continue the assault. The colonel was 
 unwilling to intrust the fate of the affair to a young officer 
 who was for the first time on the field ; but reluctantly 
 consented. The excitement of the occasion and the 
 importance of the object imparted strength to the faint 
 and weary band. They climbed the heights, and the 
 British were driven down from their batteries. General 
 Brock, at Fort George, hearing the noise of the conflict, 
 set out with a party to assist his countrymen. On their 
 arrival, some one in the wing commanded by Captain 
 Wool raised a white flag, as if demanding a cessation 
 of hostilities. Wool struck it down, trampled it on the 
 ground, and rallying our forces by a desperate effort, 
 once more charged the British, reinforced though they 
 were, and once more drove them from the heights. 
 Brock was slain — a panic seized the British — they 
 abandoned their position and fled. 
 
 Thus opened the brilliant career of General Wool. 
 His daring and military genius were at once con- 
 spicuous, and proved him to be one to whom his 
 country could look with confidence in any emergency 
 that might call her sons into the field. 
 
 For his gallant conduct at Queenstown he was pro- 
 moted to the rank of major, and assigned to the 29th 
 regiment of foot. The northern frontier was the princi- 
 pal theatre of action for this regiment. Major Wool 
 uniformly volunteered his services wherever and when- 
 ever duty and danger led. But the battle of Platts- 
 burg, which included the engagements, by land and 
 water, between the American and British forces, in , 
 
236 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 September, 1814, presented to him an opportunity for 
 distinction such as rarely occurred during the war. 
 Fighting commenced on the 6th, and continued to the 
 11th of the month. On the morning of the 5th was 
 fought the action of Beekmantown. Of this action 
 Wool was the hero. With a force of only 250 regular 
 troops, he kept a British column of 4000 in check, while 
 our forces, under General Macomb, were entrenching 
 themselves beyond the Saranac. He evinced all the 
 coolness and intrepidity which he had manifested at 
 Queenstown ; and his gallant resistance was of the last 
 importance to our cause. Had the British light brigade 
 been able to cross the river, it is impossible to calculate 
 what might have been the result, both on Lake Cham- 
 plain and on the shore. The order given by General 
 Macomb to Major Wool was to support the militia, and 
 set them an example of firmness. This order was 
 obeyed to the letter. For more than five miles along 
 the Beekmantown road the ground was contested inch 
 by inch, and the militia, reassured by the example of 
 the regulars, supported the honour of their country. 
 Nearly three hundred of the enemy fell, killed or 
 wounded, between Beekmantown and the Saranac. 
 A detailed report of the battle is given in the folio whig 
 
 Copy of a Letter from Brigadier-General Macomb to the Secretary 
 of War, dated Head-Quarters, Plattsburg, September 15, 1814. 
 
 Sir : I have the honour to communicate, for the in- 
 formation of the war department, the particulars of the 
 advance of the enemy into the territory of the United 
 States, the circumstances attending the siege of Platts- 
 burg, and the defence of the posts intrusted to my 
 charge. 
 
 The governor-general of the Canadas, Sir George 
 
wool. 2.7 
 
 Prevost, having collected all the disposable force in 
 Lower Canada, with a view of conquering the country 
 as far as Crown Point or Ticonderoga, entered the ter- 
 ritories of the United States on the 1st of the month, 
 and occupied the village of Champlain ; there avowed 
 his intention, and issued orders and proclamations 
 tending to dissuade the people from their allegiance, 
 and inviting them to furnish his army with provisions. 
 He immediately began to impress the wagons and teams 
 in the vicinity, and loaded them with his heavy baggage 
 and stores. From this I was persuaded he intended 
 to attack this place. I had but just returned from the 
 lines, where I had commanded a fine brigade, which 
 was broken up to form the division under Major-Gene- 
 ral Izard, ordered to the westward. Being senior offi- 
 cer, he left me in command ; and except the four 
 companies of the 6th regiment, I had not an organized 
 battalion among those remaining. The garrison was 
 composed of convalescents and recruits of the new 
 regiments — all in the greatest confusion, as well as the 
 ordnance and stores, and the works in no state of de- 
 fence. 
 
 To create an emulation and zeal among the officers 
 and men in completing the works, I divided them into 
 detachments, and placed them near the several forts ; 
 declaring in orders, that each detachment was the gar- 
 rison of its own work, and bound to defend it to the 
 last extremity. 
 
 The enemy advanced cautiously and by short marches, 
 and our soldiers worked day and night ; so that by the 
 time he made his appearance before the place, we were 
 prepared to receive him. 
 
 General Izard named the principal work Fort Moreau, 
 and, to remind the troops of the actions of their brave 
 
238 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 countrymen, I called the redoubt on the right Fort 
 Brown, and that on the left Fort Scott. Besides these 
 three works we have two block-houses strongly fortified. 
 
 Finding, on examining the returns of the garrison, 
 that our force did not exceed 1500 effective men for 
 duty, and well informed that the enemy had as many- 
 thousands, I called on General Mooers, of the New 
 York militia, and arranged with him plans for bringing 
 forth the militia, en masse. The inhabitants of the 
 village fled with their families and effects, except a few 
 worthy citizens and some boys, who formed themselves 
 into a party, received rifles, and were exceedingly useful. 
 By the fourth of the month General Mooers collected 
 about 700 militia, and advanced seven miles on the 
 Beekmantown road, to watch the motions of the enemy, 
 and to skirmish w r ith him as he advanced ; also to ob- 
 struct the roads with fallen trees, and to break up the 
 bridges. 
 
 On the lake road to Dead Creek bridge, I posted 
 200 men under Captain Sproul of the 13th regiment, 
 with orders to abattis the woods, to place obstructions 
 in the road, and to fortify himself; to this party I added 
 two field-pieces. In advance of this position was Lieu- 
 tenant-Colonel Appling with 110 riflemen, watching the 
 movements of the enemy, and procuring intelligence. 
 It was ascertained, that before daylight on the 6th, the 
 enemy would advance in two columns on the two roads 
 before mentioned, dividing at Sampson's, a little below 
 Chazy village. 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, notwithstand- 
 ing the British troops did not deign to fire on them, 
 except by their flankers and advanced patroles. The 
 
wool. 239 
 
 night previous I ordered Major Wool to advance with a 
 detachment of 250 men to support the militia, and set 
 them an example of firmness. Also Captain Leonard 
 of the light artillery was directed to proceed with twa 
 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 w T ell pleased. Major 
 Wool, with his party, disputed the road with great ob- 
 stinacy, but the militia could not be prevailed upon to 
 stand, notwithstanding the exertions of their general 
 and staff officers ; although the fields were divided by 
 strong stone walls, and they were told that the enemy 
 could not possibly cut them off. The state dragoons of 
 New York wear red coats, and they being on the heights 
 to w T atch 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 pene- 
 trated within a mile of Plattsburg, I despatched my aid- 
 de-camp, Lieutenant Root, to bring off the detachment 
 at Dead Creek, and to inform Lieutenant Appling that I 
 wished him to fall on the enemy's right flank. The colo- 
 nel 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 continued to annoy the 
 column until he formed a junction w T ith 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 
 was 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 protection, and to cover the retreat of the 
 
240 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 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 column which marched by the lake road was 
 much impeded by the obstructions, and the removal of 
 the bridge at Dead Creek, and, as it passed the creek 
 and beach, the galleys kept up a lively and galling fire. 
 
 Our troops being now on the south side of the Sara- 
 nac, I directed the planks to be taken off the bridges 
 and piled up in the form of breast-works to cover our 
 parties intended for disputing the passage, which after- 
 wards enabled us to hold the bridges against very supe- 
 rior numbers. 
 
 From the 7th to the 11th, the enemy was employed 
 in getting on his battering train, and erecting his batte- 
 ries and approaches, and constantly skirmishing at the 
 bridges and fords. By this time the militia of New 
 York, and the volunteers of Vermont were pouring in 
 from all quarters. I advised General Mooers»to keep 
 his force along the Saranac to prevent the enemy's cross- 
 ing the river, and to send a strong body in his rear to 
 harass him day and night, and keep him in continual 
 alarm. 
 
wool. 241 
 
 The militia behaved with great spirit after the first 
 day, and the volunteers of Vermont were exceedingly 
 serviceable. Our regular troops, notwithstanding the 
 skirmishing and repeated endeavours of the enemy to 
 cross the river, kept at their work day and night, 
 strengthening the defences, and evinced a determination 
 to hold out to the last extremity. 
 
 It was reported that the enemy only waited the arri- 
 val of his flotilla to make a general attack. About eight 
 on the morning of the 11th, as was expected, the flotilla 
 appeared in sight round Cumberland Head, and at nine 
 bore down and engaged our flotilla at anchor in the bay 
 off the town. At the same instant the batteries were 
 opened on us, and continued throwing bomb-shells, 
 shrapnels, balls, and congreve rockets until sunset, 
 when the bombardment ceased, every battery of the 
 enemy being silenced by the superiority of our fire. 
 The naval engagement lasted but two hours, in full view 
 of both armies. Three efforts were made by the enemy 
 to pass the river at the commencement of the cannonade 
 and bombardment, with a view of assaulting the works, 
 and he had prepared for that purpose an immense number 
 of scaling-ladders. One attempt to cross was made at 
 the village bridge, and another at the upper bridge, and 
 a third at a ford about three miles from the works. At 
 the two first he was repulsed by the regulars, at the ford 
 by the brave volunteers and militia, where he suffered 
 severely in killed and wounded, and prisoners ; a con- 
 siderable body having crossed the stream, but were 
 either killed, taken, or driven back. The woods at this 
 place were very favourable to the operations of the 
 militia. A whole company of the 76th regiment was 
 here destroyed, the three lieutenants and twenty-seven 
 men taken prisoners, the captain and the rest killed. 
 
242 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 I cannot forego the pleasure of here stating the gal- 
 lant conduct of Captain M'Glassin, of the 15th regi- 
 ment, who was ordered to ford the river, and attack a 
 party constructing a batter) r on the right of the enemy's 
 line, within 500 yards of Fort Brown, which he hand- 
 somely executed at midnight, with fifty men ; drove off 
 the working-party, consisting of 160, and defeated a 
 covering party of the same number, killing one officer 
 and six men in the charge, and wounding many. 
 
 At dusk the enemy withdrew iris artillery from the 
 batteries, and raised the siege, and at nine, under cover 
 of the night, sent off in a great hurry ail the baggage he 
 could find transport for, and all his artillery. At two 
 tl. • next morning the whole army preciptately retreated, 
 leaving the sick and wounded to our generosity, and the 
 governor left a note with a surgeon, requesting the 
 humane attention of the commanding general. 
 
 Vast quantities of provisions were left behind and 
 destroyed, also an immense quantity of bomb-shells, 
 cannon-balls, grape-shot, ammunition, flints, &c, &c, 
 intrenching tools of all sorts, also tents and marquees. 
 A great deal has been concealed in the ponds and 
 creeks, and buried in the ground, and a vast quantity 
 carried off by the inhabitants. Such was the precipitance 
 of his retreat, that he arrived at Chazy, a distance of 
 eight miles, before we discovered he had gone. The 
 light troops, volunteers, and militia pursued immediately 
 on learning of his flight ; and some of the mounted 
 men made prisoners five dragoons of the 19th regiment, 
 and several others of the rear-guard. A continual fall 
 of rain and a violent storm prevented further pursuit. 
 Upwards of 300 deserters have come in, and many are 
 hourly arriving. 
 
 We have buried the British officers of the army and 
 
w®©l. 243 
 
 navy with the honours of war, and shown every atten- 
 tion and kindness to those who have fallen into our 
 hands. 
 
 The conduct of the officers, non-commissioned offi- 
 cers, and soldiers of my command, during this trying 
 occasion, cannot be represented in too high terms, and 
 I feel it my duty to recommend to the particular notice 
 of government, Lieutenant-Colonel Appling of the 1st 
 rifle corps : Major Wool, of the 29th ; Major Totten, 
 of the corps of engineers ; Captain Brooks, of the 
 artillery ; Captain M'Glassin, of the 15th ; Lieutenants 
 de Russy and Trescott, of the corps of engineers ; Lieu- 
 tenants Smyth, Mountford, and Cromwell, of the 
 artillery; also my aid-de-camp, Lieutenant Root, who 
 have all distinguished themselves by their uncommon 
 zeal and activity, and have been greatly instrumental 
 in producing the happy and glorious result of the siege. 
 
 I have the honour to be, with sentiments of profound 
 respect, sir, your most obedient humble servant, 
 
 ALEX. MACOMB. 
 
 The loss of the enemy in killed, wounded, prisoners, 
 and deserters, since his first appearance, cannot fall 
 short of 2500, including many officers, among whom is 
 Colonel Wellington of the Buffs. 
 
 Major Wool's services on this important occasion 
 were rewarded by promotion to the rank of lieutenant- 
 colonel by brevet, the department of war taking care to 
 specify that it was for his gallant conduct at the battle 
 of Plattsburg. 
 
 At the expiration of the war, Lieutenant-Colonel 
 Wool continued in the army, and in 1816 was commis- 
 sioned inspector-general, with the rank of colonel. 
 Ten years after he was made brigadier-general by bre- 
 
244 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 vet. In 1841 he was commissioned a brigadier general, 
 and appointed to the command of the eastern division 
 of the army. In this station he remained until the war 
 with Mexico opened a new theatre for action. 
 
 During the long interval between the two wars, he 
 was constantly-engaged in some important service. As 
 inspector-general his duties for about . twenty-five years 
 were connected with every department- of -the military 
 establishment in the United 'States "and her territories, 
 extending from Eastport, in .Maine, to -the Gulf of 
 Mexico, and from the Atlantic to Council- Bluffs-. When 
 he was appointed, there were no white settlements 'north- 
 west of Detroit. There were military posts .established 
 at Mackinac, Sault St. Marie, Chicago, Green Bay, 
 Prairie du Chien, St. Peter's, on the upper Mississippi, 
 2200 miles from its mouth, Council Bluffs, "some 1800 
 miles up the Missouri ; and posts on the Arkansas 600 
 miles from its outlet, and on the Red river 400. 
 
 All these were within the limits of his tours of inspec- 
 tion, which annually embraced an entire distance of 
 from seven to ten thousand miles. There were no means' 
 of reaching the posts but by canoes and on horseback, 
 with provisions packed for a journey of months through 
 the wilderness. The dangers, privations and hardships, 
 unavoidable in traversing lakes, rivers, and forests by 
 such means, and often with Indian guides, whose fidelity 
 might admit of some suspicion, and always without 
 shelter or any resting-place but the earth and a blanket, 
 can hardly be realized by those who daily witness the 
 facilities of travel and its thousand attendant comforts 
 and conveniences, in civilized communities. 
 
 Such was the nature of the duties attached to the 
 office of inspector-general prior to the settlement of the 
 new states west of the lakes and the Mississippi ; and 
 
wool. 245 
 
 even in the latter period of General Wool's inspector- 
 ship, though the difficulties incident to its faithful exe- 
 cution were lessened by the advancement of settlements, 
 yet they were far from being removed ; and still are, 
 under the most favourable circumstances, such as render 
 the office by no means a sinecure. ♦ 
 
 During the long peace, he rendered other services 
 which, we shall merely mention, were connected with a 
 military visit to Europe, a command in the Cherokee 
 country, and the disturbances on our northern frontier 
 caused by the Canadian outbreak. 
 
 Since the war was declared by Congress to exist with 
 Mexico, in May, 1846, General Wool has been occu- 
 pied — 1st. In the organization of the western volunteers. 
 2d. In the concentration of a division at San Antonio 
 de Bexar. 3d. In their march to Saltillo ; and 4th. In 
 the battle of Buena Vista. 
 
 After the Mexican war was declared, General Wool, 
 who had volunteered to take part in the campaign, was 
 gratified to receive, a few days after the act of Congress 
 had passed, instructions to repair to Washington. The 
 same day on which he got his order he was en route to 
 the capital j and having been instructed to proceed to 
 the western states, to organize and muster into service 
 the volunteers of Ohio, Illinois, Kentucky, Indiana, 
 Tennessee and Mississippi, he was in consultation with 
 the governor of Ohio at Columbus, on the 5th of June, 
 and engrossed in the details of his new duty at Cincin- 
 nati on the 6th. In about six weeks he accomplished 
 the work assigned him, in a manner which reflected on 
 him high credit for skill, zeal, energy and despatch. 
 The unprepared condition of the volunteers, their almost 
 simultaneous rush, in great confusion, to their respective 
 rendezvous in the six different states, their inspection, 
 
246 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 reception into service, organization, supply and depar- 
 ture for Mexico, involved difficulties which demanded 
 the greatest experience, the minutest acquaintance with 
 the details of every branch of the service, extraordinaiy 
 patience, labour, tact and address. Their wants were to 
 be promptly provided for; their clamours appeased ; their 
 ten thousand questions listened to; the first elements of 
 military duty taught them ; and, withal, a correspond- 
 ence kept up with local governors, colonels, agents and 
 other officers, as well as with the military authorities at 
 Washington. Nevertheless, from the first week in June 
 to the third in July this perplexing and arduous, but 
 most important service was performed ; and Wool had 
 the satisfaction of sending 10,000 volunteers to reinforce 
 General Taylor ; the remainder being retained to form 
 part of his own division, which had been ordered to 
 concentrate at San Antonio de Bexar. He organized 
 and prepared for service three regiments from Ohio, 
 three from Indiana, two from Kentucky — one of these 
 being a regiment of cavalry, and therefore requiring con- 
 siderably more preparation than infantry; four from 
 Illinois ; one of cavalry from Tennessee ; and one and 
 a half from Mississippi. How all this was done in so 
 short a period, considering the difficulties already men- 
 tioned, and the delays in procuring arms, camp-equi- 
 page, means of transportation and other necessaries, was 
 a surprise even to military men. When Wellington had 
 the command of the British armies in Portugal, he did 
 not display more energy in any department of the ser- 
 vice intrusted to him than in the organization of Portu- 
 guese regiments. And the fame of Marshal Beresford 
 rests chiefly on his disciplining these auxiliaries. The 
 battle of Albuera, which he fought and won, was a 
 olunder. His success was owing to the stern courage 
 
wool. 247 
 
 of his troops ; and the historians of the Peninsular war 
 can find in the commander no generalship, of which the 
 admiration and praise might divert attention from the 
 carnage of what Byron so justly describes as a " bootless 
 field of strife." But if the training of these Portuguese 
 soldiers be the foundation of a British marshal's reputa- 
 tion, we cannot withhold our high admiration from 
 General Wool, when we contemplate the skill with 
 which, in so brief a time, he organized and supplied 
 upwards of twelve thousand men to our forces in Mexico, 
 and sent them over ground, in comparison with which 
 the distances in the narrow kingdom of Portugal dwin- 
 dle into a mere day's journey. We have said that 
 Beresford owes his fame and rank, not to his genius in 
 the field of battle, but to his talent in organizing and 
 disciplining new levies. General Wool, however, is 
 distinguished for both, as the battle of Buena Vista 
 strikingly attests ; and without both, we have not mili- 
 tary genius of the highest kind — the genius which at 
 once rules over the spirits of men, and commands itself, 
 while wisely commanding others in circumstances of 
 danger and trial. 
 
 Having fulfilled his instructions in organizing the vol- 
 unteers, and despatched the required reinforcements to 
 General Taylor, General Wool made preparations for 
 his own march through the province of Coahuila. 
 This march terminated at Saltillo, and is one of the most 
 memorable of the war. As the general marched along, 
 he was peacefully received by the inhabitants. His ad- 
 vance was more like the passage of a distinguished ally 
 than of an enemy. In short, he may be said to have 
 made a moral conquest of the whole province, by his 
 humane and discreet policy and singular aptitude for 
 swaying the minds of men. Adversaries he converted 
 
248 TAVLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 into friends by a combination of firmness, kindness and 
 justice ; and the reputation of his column spread a 
 powerfully favorable influence into the adjacent provinces 
 of Durango and Zacatecas. When resistance to his 
 advance was threatened he was found ready to face it ; 
 he protected the persons and property of the inhabitants 
 from any ill usage on the part of his own men ; he 
 even rescued some captives from the Indians who infest 
 Northern Mexico ; he saw that everything got by his 
 soldiers from the Mexicans was fairly paid for ; in fine, 
 he kept his division in such excellent subordination that 
 not a single family was obliged to flee at their approach, 
 or had occasion to dread the outrages which so often — 
 we had almost said invariably — attend invasions, whether 
 gratuitous or provoked. It is said, that in December 
 last, when suddenly called from Parras to relieve the 
 threatened position of General Worth, his sick soldiers 
 were received into the first families to be attended ; and 
 that the ladies of that city, who had not forgotten the 
 rescue of the captives, nor the sacred protection which 
 had been extended to themselves, begged it as a privi- 
 lege to receive into their houses, and to watch over, the 
 invalids, whose lives might have been jeoparded by the 
 forced march that was necessary to reach Saltillo before 
 the period designated for Santa Anna's arrival ! 
 
 General Wool's troops complained at first of the 
 fatigues attending their long marches, and of the strict 
 discipline which he enforced — and these complaints 
 were no doubt all the louder that they were volunteers ; 
 but they at length learned that this very familiarity with 
 hardship, and this strictness of discipline, secured their 
 safety and success. 
 
 In the Peninsular war, Wellington's light division, 
 under General Crawford, was perhaps as fine a body of 
 
wool. 249 
 
 soldiers as ever entered the field. They fired the first 
 and last shot in almost every engagement. As an ad- 
 vanced guard, they were unrivalled ; and the expertness, 
 steadiness, endurance and confidence in themselves 
 arose from Crawford's rigid, but admirable drilling. 
 They complained bitterly of their general's seemingly 
 unnecessary severity, and his insisting on a straight 
 forward march, when they might (without harm, as 
 they thought) have consulted their ease by turning so 
 far aside. But in the end, he who was originally re- 
 garded as unnecessarily severe became universally be- 
 loved. Wherever he led, his men were willing to 
 follow, because he had taught them obedience ; and in 
 teaching them, had also inspired them with an un- 
 bounded trust in his own genius. So it was with Gene- 
 ral Wool. Those who at first grumbled at his apparent 
 hastiness came at last to find that he had been all along 
 acting for their good, and for the efficient service of 
 their country. It was Crawford who, on perceiving that 
 a commissary 7 was likely to disappoint him in the 
 forwarding of provisions for his men, threatened to 
 hang that functionary up to the nearest tree. The com- 
 missary laid his complaint before the Duke of Welling- 
 ton. The duke asked — " Did he really say so ?" The 
 commissary, expecting redress, replied — " He did, my 
 lord." "Then," answered Wellington, "I would 
 advise you to have the provisions up ; for if General 
 Crawford said so, by Jove he will do it !" Here was, 
 on Crawford's part, an instance at once of care for his 
 brave followers, and of stern strictness in exacting the 
 fulfilment of orders. It must, also, have been by the 
 union of unwavering firmness in discipline and tactics, 
 with a constant regard to the interests of his command, 
 
250 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 that General Wool was able to accomplish so much with 
 the western volunteers. 
 
 We now come to the battle of Buena Vista, in which 
 General W r ool acted a most conspicuous part. It 
 wis he who chose our army's position, arranged our 
 forces for the battle, and directly conducted their opera- 
 tions in the field. These duties he performed to the 
 entire satisfaction of his commanding general, the army 
 and the country. In fact, General Wool had formed 
 his opinion of the course which our army cr.ght to 
 pursue, independently of any orders received from his 
 superior; and General Taylor, whose views exactly 
 coincide with his, felt such confidence in General W T ool 
 as to intrust him with what may be called lie executive 
 command in the engagement. He wa, : to be seen 
 everywhere through the field animating, superintending, 
 directing. In the discharge of his duty, he exposed 
 himself to every danger, and won the admiration of the 
 troops by his valour, while he led th'ji/i to victory by his 
 example and his generalship. General Taylor, in his 
 despatches, bears ample testimony to the services of 
 his second in command. There never were on the 
 field of battle two generals more united in opinion, feel- 
 ing and action. All was harmony between them. And 
 when, after the conflict, they nished into each other's 
 arms, on a field where more than three thousand men 
 lay dead or wounded, mutual admiration, joy for the 
 victory, and sorrow for the slain, mingled in one over 
 powering gush of sympathy. It was a picture on 
 which the whole army, then in array for a third day's 
 combat, looked with joyous surprise, and burst into 
 cheers — three cheers, thrice repeated. 
 
 We cannot imagine anything more to the credit of 
 both generals than the warm unenvying testimony which 
 
WOOL. 251 
 
 each bears to the other's merits in their official accounts 
 of the battle. Happy is the country where chiefs are 
 thus united, in honour preferring one another ! That 
 country has already pronounced its highest encomium 
 on the noble conduct of the two commanders ; nor, at 
 the same time, does it forget that on a field where they 
 were opposed by five to one, every officer and soldier 
 who did his duty was a hero. 
 
 We had made numerous extracts from public docu- 
 ments with regard to the conduct and character of 
 General Wool ; but these we withhold, at least for the 
 present. Suffice it to say that they are unanimous and 
 enthusiastic in his praise. The journals of the day have 
 vied with each other in proclaiming his merits; and 
 public bodies — among whom are the legislature of his 
 native state, and the citizens of Troy — have passed 
 resolutions, expressive of their admiration of his actions 
 and their appreciation of his eminent talents. There 
 may exist various opinions on our war with Mexico ; 
 but in one respect it has been useful : it has assured the 
 Americans, and shown to the world that when it is 
 necessary for us to take the field, we have both men and 
 leaders to maintain our cause. 
 
 We do hope that peace may soon settle on our land, 
 and that we may be long permitted to pursue our career 
 of industry, undisturbed by the feverish desire of that 
 which some men regard exclusively as glory. Yet, 
 believing that the best guaranty for the continuance of 
 peace is the conviction in the minds both of ourselves 
 and others that we have full power to protect and avenge 
 ourselves in war, we rejoice in the development of 
 military resources and skill which the present war has 
 occasioned. 
 
252 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 During the summer following the battle of Buena 
 Vista, very little was done by either Taylor or Wool, 
 in consequence of wanting the means requisite for an 
 advance into the interior. During the months of June 
 and July, General Urrea hovered near Wool's encamp- 
 ment for the purpose of capturing stragglers and cutting 
 off supplies, but was extremely careful to keep clear of 
 any regular force. On receiving information of an 
 attack on some ranchos by an Indian force, he suddenly 
 retreated towards the south. Had his courage been 
 equal to the rapidity and wariness of his movements, he 
 could have given the Americans much trouble. Upon 
 reaching a place of safety, he published a proclamation 
 to the American soldiery, exhorting them to leave their 
 army and join that of Mexico. The document met with 
 Reserved contempt. 
 
 In August, symptoms of activity began to display 
 themselves in Taylor's camp. General Wool was or- 
 dered to Saltfllo, preparatory to a movement on Encar- 
 nacion. At this place he was to join General Taylor, 
 after which the combined army were to advance against 
 San Luis Potosi. 
 
 These active preparations were interrupted, as wc 
 have already seen, by the demand upon General Taylor 
 for troops to assist the army of General Scott in its in- 
 tended march upon the capital. 
 
 Since that time, Wool has assiduously devoted him- 
 self to the discipline of his volunteers ; and, although 
 this duty is 4ess dazzling than that of a hero in the 
 battle-field, yet there can be little doubt that, should an 
 opportunity be afforded, he will show that the present 
 season of quietness was not spent in inactivity. 
 
BRIGADIER-GENERAL DAVID E. TWIGGS 
 
TWIGGS. 
 
 General D. E. Twiggs is the fifti son of Major- 
 General John Twiggs, of revolutionary memory, whose 
 distinguished services in our conflict with Great Britain 
 have given his name an imperishable renown, more 
 particularly in the southern section of the country. From 
 his private fortune, which was large, General Twiggs 
 raised at the breaking out of the struggle an effective 
 brigade, whose services, with his own, he tendered in 
 the cause of his oppressed country. How T they were 
 received and appreciated, may be conceived from the 
 fact of his being termed "the Saviour of Georgia," and 
 a major-generalship in our then infant army being 
 conferred upon him. One of the largest and most opu- 
 lent counties in the state received and still bears the 
 name of Twiggs. The subject of the present sketch 
 was born at the family residence in Richmond county, 
 Georgia, in 1790. After a brief sojourn in Franklin 
 College, at Athens, he entered the office of the present 
 venerable head of the Augusta bar, General Thomas 
 Flournoy. A short time after the completion of his 
 legal studies, the breaking out "of the war of 1812 
 caused a change of profession ; and through his father's 
 influence he obtained a captain's Commission, and has 
 now served thirty-five years in the United States army, 
 and passed through every variety of climate, exposure, 
 and disease. During the late war, as it is still termed, 
 he served with distinction, and its close found young 
 
254 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 Twiggs in possession of many honourable laurels. He 
 was rewarded by a brevet majority by the govern- 
 ment, and received various testimonials from his native 
 state. 
 
 He afterwards served with General Jackson in the 
 Indian campaign, and ever afterwards secured the 
 esteem and friendship of this great captain. To Cap- 
 tain Twiggs was assigned the duty of receiving the 
 surrender of Fort St. Marks. 
 
 General Jackson, then president, gave to Lieutenant- 
 Colonel Twiggs the command of the military expedi- 
 tion against Black Hawk, when the cholera in 1832 
 arrested it at Green Bay. In 1833, during the days of 
 nullification, he, by the order of the president, was in 
 command at the arsenal, near Augusta. Colonel Twiggs 
 
 7 O OCT 
 
 accompanied General Gaines, as second in command, 
 when he marched from Tampa Bay to Fort King, in 
 Florida, after the massacre of Major Dade's column. 
 He was also in the battle at the cove of Withlacoochee, 
 when General Gaines was surrounded by the Indians. 
 Soon after this he was advanced from lieutenant-colonel 
 of the 4th infantry, to full colonel of the 2d regiment 
 of dragoons, and served with it under General Scott, 
 during his campaign in Florida. 
 
 His character may be defined to be a reckless inde- 
 pendence alike of superiors and inferiors, a severe 
 disciplinarian, unflinching determination, the strictest 
 honesty, and a good heart. 
 
 At the commencement of the present war with Mexico, 
 Colonel Twiggs's regiment formed a part of the Army 
 of Occupation ; and through the whole course of opera- 
 tions he has figured among the most active and useful 
 officers in the Geld. 
 
 On the 20th of V 
 
TWIGGS. 255 
 
 detached by General Taylor for the service of capturing 
 Point Isabel, which was held by General Garcia, with a 
 force of 250 men, composed of infantry and artillery. 
 The public buildings were set on fire by the Mexican 
 authorities at the approach of the Americans, and the 
 soldiers and inhabitants, with General Garcia at their 
 head, incontinently took to flight, escaping just in time 
 lo avoid the swords of Colonel Twiggs's dragoons, who, 
 however, arrived in the town in season to save a few of 
 the burning houses. 
 
 After the capture of Point Isabel, General Taylor, it 
 will be recollected, moved forward rapidly towards 
 Matamoras, opposite which he erected Fort Brown, 
 and the war was formally commenced. In the i 
 time, Point Isabel became a place of considerable busi- 
 ness ; new buildings were erected, the harbour was 
 gladdened with' the unaccustomed presence of many 
 vessels, laden with stores for the army, and a squadron 
 of men-of-war lay in the offing, with the star-spangled 
 banner fluttering in the southern breeze. 
 
 The place was garrisoned by two companies of 
 artillery, under the command of Major James Munroe ; 
 and new fortifications were immediately commenced, 
 under the superintendence of Captain Saunders, of the 
 engineers. 
 
 Having made the necessary dispositions for the occu- 
 pation and defence of this post, Colonel Twiggs 
 hastened to rejoin General Taylor at the camp opposite 
 Matamoras. 
 
 At the battle of Palo Alto, Colonel Twiggs com- 
 manded the whole of the right wing, comprising Mcin- 
 tosh's infantry, Ringgold's artillery, Morris and Allen's 
 infantry, Churchill's artillery, part of the fourth brigade 
 under Garland, and the dragoons of Kerr and May. 
 
256 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 How the several parts of his command distinguished 
 themselves in this great battle is already familiarly 
 known to the reader. His humanity to the wounded 
 after the battle was as conspicuous as his courage and 
 coolness in action. At the battle of Resaca de Ja 
 Palraa, Colonel Twiggs's services were also recognised 
 as of great importance ; and to him were intrusted the 
 arrangements respecting the exchange of prisoners after 
 the battle. He also led the van at the capture of 
 Matamoras and on its falling into the hands of tht 
 Americans, he was appointed governor of the town. 
 His summary manner of dealing with the roguish pre- 
 fect of the place is humorously noticed by Mr. Thorpe, 
 in his "Army on the Rio Grande." 
 
 Colonel Twiggs's services on the 8th and 9th. of May 
 were very properly noticed by the government ; who, 
 on the 30th of June, 1846, promoted him to the rank 
 of brigadier-general. 
 
 From this time he participated in the labours and 
 perils of General Taylor, until we find him before 
 Monterey, where the most arduous service was assigned 
 to him. It will be recollected by our reader, that the 
 first division, under General Twiggs, was ordered on 
 the 21st of September to make a dhersion to the .eft 
 of the town, while General Worth was attacking the 
 heights which commanded it. 
 
 A battery opened upon the citadel and town, while 
 the first division were to advance, and skirmish with 
 the enemy, and, if possible, carry the most advanced 
 battery. This duty was gallantly performed, under 
 the most terrible and galling fire from the city and forts. 
 
 The posts thus captured were held by the captors 
 themselves till the evening of the second day, when 
 this wearied garrison was relieved bv General Quit- 
 
TWIGGS. 257 
 
 man's troops. They nevertheless participated in the 
 severe street-fighting of the third day, which brought 
 on the proposition for surrender on the fourth. 
 
 We refer our readers to the very full and accurate 
 accounts which we have already given of the siege and 
 capture of Monterey, in our life of General Taylor, as 
 well as to his official despatches, for notices of the par- 
 ticular part taken by General Twiggs in this glorious 
 affair. 
 
 After the capture of Monterey, General Twiggs was 
 occupied in garrisoning with his division that and the 
 other posts which fell into the hands of the Americans, 
 until the grand movement on Vera Cruz occasioned 
 General Scott to detach him, with his division, from 
 General Taylor's command. He was thus prevented 
 from sharing the glories and perils of Buena Vista ; but 
 he bore an honourable and conspicuous part in the siege 
 and capture of Vera Cruz. 
 
 According to the latest advices from the army, Gene- 
 ral Twiggs took up his line of march from the camp 
 near Vera Cruz towards Jalapa, with a column of 2500 
 men, on the 3d of April. Colonel Harney, with 500 
 dragoons, had preceded, and Colonel Bankhead, with 
 the 2d regiment of artillery, and a long train, w T as to 
 follow General Twiggs. 
 
 In the future operations of the army, we doubt not 
 that the skill and bravery of this veteran commander 
 will prove of great service to the cause in which he is 
 engaged. No officer appears to have inspired greater 
 confidence in his capacity for every emergency which 
 the war may hereafter present. 
 
 The following report of General Twiggs shows the 
 part taken by his division, at the opening of the siege 
 of Vera Cruz. 
 
258 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS 
 
 Head-Quarters, Second Brigade of the Army, j 
 
 Camp at Vcrzara, near Vera Cruz, > 
 
 March 15, 1847. ) 
 
 Sir : — I have the honour to report the occurrences 
 in which my brigade has been concerned since the com- 
 mencement of the march from the place of debarkation 
 until now. 
 
 The brigade took up the line of march on the morn- 
 ing of the 11th instint, the regiment of mounted rifle- 
 men leading. After passing the position of the first 
 brigade, the first squadron of riflemen, composed of 
 the companies of Captains Loring and Mason, under the 
 command of Major Summer, 2d dragoons, was sent 
 forward as an advanced guard. On crossing the rail- 
 road, the advanced guard took the direct way over the 
 hills, but this being impassable for the artillery, the 
 rest of the brigade with the pieces was obliged to make 
 a detour to the left. On passing the position of General 
 Pillow's brigade, Brevet Captain Alburtis, 2d infan- 
 try, and one private of riflemen, were killed by a round 
 shot, and two privates wounded. Major Sumner hav- 
 ing passed some distance beyond the position occupied 
 by the volunteers, was opposed by the enemy's light 
 troops, whom he drove off, and halted near a small 
 ranch, when the r?st of the brigade joined him aiivl 
 proceeded to clear :he ground to be occupied by my 
 brigade. 
 
 The advance drove the enemy's skirmishers befort 
 it, receiving without loss their fire, until it arrived at 
 the Orizaba road. On passing the road, a party of 
 hoi semen were perceived stationed on it to our left 
 Captain Sanderson's company of mounted riflemen was 
 detached to attack them, being supported by Captain 
 Simson's company of the same regiment. He drr ve 
 
TWIGGS. 259 
 
 Ihem off, killing two captains — one of the lancers, and 
 the other of the auxiliary guard of Jalapa, named J. 
 Platos. In this affair, Private Weller, of Captain San- 
 derson's company, was severely wounded in the thigh 
 by an escopette ball. 
 
 Having driven these parties off, the brigade, took if 
 position in line, extending as far towards the Jalapa 
 road on the beach as the strength of the brigade would 
 allow, and bivouacked till the morning of the 13th, 
 when we took up the line of march towards the sea — 
 Major Sumner again commanding the advance guard, 
 composed of the left wing of the rifle regiment. Making 
 a considerable detour to the left to avoid some ponds of 
 water, I arrived about noon on the great road leading 
 to the city of Mexico. On coming out here, Lieutenant 
 Robert's company of mounted riflemen leading, a party 
 of mounted men was discovered. After a short skirmish 
 the enemy were dispersed, my men receiving no injury. 
 The head of the column arrived at its present position 
 on the beach at the village of Vergara, about tw T o and 
 a half miles from Vera Cruz, a few minutes after twelve 
 o'clock. 
 
 I would commend to particular notice the conduct of 
 Major Sumner, 2d dragoons. His skill and coolness 
 inspired those under his command with the fullest con- 
 fidence, and gave to them the bearing of old soldiers 
 The officers and men of all the companies engaged gavt 
 entire satisfaction. 
 
 An important mail which I had the honour to trnnsmil 
 to the head-quarters of the army this morning by Cap- 
 tain Taylor, was taken last night by Captain Magruder, 
 1st artillery, who was in command of one of the sup- 
 porting companies sent out yesterday morni lg to 
 skirmish m the front of my brigade towards the city. 
 
260 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERAL*. 
 
 The mail carrier was shot at, and is supposed to have 
 been wounded. His horse, hat, and cloak were left on 
 the ground at the place where he was fired at, and the 
 mail along with these effects. Captain Magruder 
 deserves praise foi his zeal and good conduct in this 
 affair. 
 
 [Here follows the list of killed and wounded.] 
 
 After the capture of Vera Cruz, General Twiggs 
 was ordered to lead the van on the march towards the 
 city of Mexico. His brilliant success in the late 
 bloody battle of Cerro Gordo, on the 17th and 18th of 
 April, evinces the good judgment of the commander- 
 in-chief in selecting him for this important and peril- 
 ous duty. One of the correspondents of the New 
 Orleans papers gives the following narrative of this 
 brilliant affair, in which it will be seen that General 
 Twiggs and his division bore the brunt of the battle. 
 
 " The Mexicans, under Santa Anna, were occupying a 
 chain of works along the road, the nearest of which was 
 about a mile and a quarter from General Scott's head- 
 quarters in a direct line. The road this side was cut 
 up and barricaded, and every possible means of defence 
 and annoyance had been resorted to. 
 
 "Beyond the first work there were three or four others, 
 completely commanding the gorge through which the 
 .road to Jalapa runs — these fortifications were on hills, 
 and rising so as to defend one another. It is thought 
 that Santa Anna had 20,000 men with him — the lowest 
 estimate gives him 15,000 — and with these he had twen- 
 ty-four pieces of field artillery, besides some some four- 
 teen heavy cannon in position. Some of the prisoners 
 and deserters from the enemy's camp even placed higher 
 estimates, both as to the number of men and gnns. 
 
TWIGGS. 2G 1 
 
 " To turn these different works, a road had been par- 
 tially cut through the rough ground and chapparal to 
 the right ; and, although the reconnoissanee was imper- 
 fect, it was still thought that a point near the enemy's 
 farthest work could be reached. If General Twiggs 
 should succeed in retching the rear of Santi Anna, the 
 battle would be decided. 
 
 " Santa Anna left the capital with a force of near 
 10,000 troops, intending to unite with La Vega ; and 
 with strong reinforcements of the national guard, and 
 the rabble (jarochada) of Puebla and other towns on 
 the route, to take position at a strong pass, called Cerro 
 Gordo, and there give our army battle. A stronger 
 position could not have been selected. The road leads 
 through a precipitous ridge, whence the name ' Cerro 
 Gordo/ or wide ridge. Before and around this ridge, 
 on the road to Vera Cruz, are steep hills, which the 
 enemy had strongly fortified with about twenty-four 
 heavy guns, and a force which, at the lowest estimate, 
 must have been at least 15,000. 
 
 " Three forts, commanding the road for miles, had first 
 to be carried before the Cerro could be attacked ! The 
 hills were covered and the batteries strongly supported 
 by a large force of Santa Anna's best infantry. On the 
 other side of the pass, Santa Anna himself was stationed 
 with 3000 cavalry — a position assumed either to cut off 
 the retreat of his men, or to facilitate his own. The 
 battle opened with an attack upon an advanced post, 
 strongly fortified, of the enemy. This was handsomely 
 done by the van-guard of General Twiggs, under the 
 command of Major Sumner — General Smith being 
 unfortunately ill. The new and splendid regiment of 
 mounted riflemen took the lead, and under a heavy shower 
 of grape and musketry, drove the enemy from their 
 
262 TAVLUR ASB HIS 6E^KHAi.S. 
 
 position. Our loss in this affair was heavy. Major 
 Sumner was wounded in the head, and several other 
 officers were badly wonnded. When our troops had 
 occupied this position, the enemy made a feint of attack- 
 ing them, but after a great parade retired to their strong 
 defences. 
 
 " After this, the enemy kept up an incessant fire on our 
 lines, but without effect. The next day (18th), the 
 battle was opened in earnest, and by a succession of 
 brilliant charges, under Generals Twiggs, Shields, Pil- 
 low, and Worth, all the various forts and defences were 
 severally carried at the point of the bayonet, the enemy 
 totally routed, and 5000 of them taken prisoners, toge- 
 ther with most of their generals, and all their baggage 
 and munitions ; General Santa Anna narrowly escaped 
 on a mule, taking some by-path through the chapparal. 
 
 " He was closely followed by his secretary of war, 
 General Canalizo, who, for his great reputed bravery, 
 has been for a long time called the ' Lion of Mexico.' 
 General Vasquez, who commanded the corps de reserve 
 at Buena Yista, was killed. This officer had a high 
 reputation for gallantry and military knowledge. He 
 was a Spaniard, who was somewhat distinguished in the 
 Spanish service. Other Mexican officers were killed, 
 but most of them were taken prisoners. Among these 
 are General Herrera, the ex-president ; Generals Jarrero 
 and De La Vega — the former accepted his parole, the 
 latter preferred to enjoy the hospitalities of the good 
 citizens of New Orleans." 
 
 On the day after the battle of Cerro Gordo, General 
 Twiggs entered the town of Jalapa without opposition. 
 Here he remained with the greater part of his division, 
 until the main army took up its march for the city of 
 Mexico. He bore a full share in the hardships attend- 
 
TWIGGS. 263 
 
 ing the reconnoissance of Penon. He followed Worth to 
 San Augustin, and bivouacked during the night of the 
 18th of August on the open field, without covering, and 
 exposed to a drenching rain. 
 
 Before daylight on the following morning, the troops 
 marched to attack Contreras. Their progress was 
 extremely slow, owing to the ruggedness of the ground, 
 the occurrence of numerous pools of water, and the sur- 
 rounding darkness. About 10 o'clock a body of cavalry, 
 supposed to number ten thousand, appeared in the field, 
 with the apparent intention of attacking the American 
 rear. A detachment of artillery dispersed them with 
 some loss. The attack upon Contreras was commenced 
 at noon, and the firing continued incessantly until dark. 
 Within the fort the Mexicans had twenty-two heavy 
 guns, all of which were in full discharge during the 
 assault. General Pillow was associated with General 
 Twiggs in the attack, and the arrangements of both for 
 a successful assault and the safety of their men, were 
 admirable. The army spent this night in the same 
 unpleasant circumstances as they had the preceding one, 
 without tents or blankets, amid heavy rains. 
 
 At three o'clock on the following morning, the attack 
 was renewed, the army marching through a long ravine, 
 with Colonel Riley in ads T ance, followed by General 
 Cadwalader. This march was even more difficult than 
 that of the day previous, being over ground intersected 
 and broken up by deep ravines and masses of lava. 
 
 Between one and two o'clock, on the 19th, the divi- 
 sion of General Twiggs had come up with the advance 
 and moved forward, General Smith's brigade advancing 
 to the left, and Colonel Ripley's to the right. General 
 Pillow then placed at General Twiggs's disposal, Cap- 
 tain McGruder's battery and Lieutenant Cadwalader's 
 
 n 
 
264 TAYLOR AND HIS GENERALS. 
 
 howitzers, both of which belonged properly to Pillow's 
 command. In consequence of the loss sustained by these 
 companies, they had been withdrawn, and General 
 Twiggs himself had retired to the position occupied by 
 the general-in-chief. This prevented him from partici- 
 pating in the final attack upon the fort. 
 
 Soon after the capture of Contreras, General Twiggs 
 advanced and ordered an immediate pursuit of the ene- 
 my. The order was promptly obeyed, — the sappers 
 and miners being thrown forward, as skirmishers, fol- 
 lowed by Shields's brigade and the divison of Twiggs. 
 Pillow's command brought up the rear. The enemy 
 endeavoured to make a stand at every favourable point 
 on the road, but was as often repulsed ; and was finally 
 driven into Churubusco. 
 
 At this strong position, both armies concentrated 
 their entire force, to wrestle for the fate of Mexico. 
 The defence was vigorous, but short. Assailed by the 
 irresistible bayonets of the heroes of Cerro Gordo and 
 Contreras, the enemy were soon compelled to flee on all 
 sides. 
 
 In the imperfect unofficial reports hitherto received 
 of the actions at King's Mill and at the final reduction 
 of the city, General Twiggs's name does not appear. 
 The official accounts will undoubtedly bear honourable 
 testimony to his good conduct on these occasions. 
 
MAJOK-GENEKAL WINFIELD SCOTT. 
 
A SKETCH OP THE LIFE . 
 
 OF 
 
 MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT, 
 
 WITH AN ACCOUNT OF 
 
 THE BOMBARDMENT OF VERA CRUZ 
 
 Major-General Winfield Scott, at present com- 
 mander-in-chief of the army of the United States, was 
 born on the 13th of June, 1786, near Petersburg, Vir- 
 ginia. He was sent in early life to the High School at 
 Richmond, went to William and Mary College, and 
 studied for the profession of the law. 
 
 In 1808, when the country was evidently approaching 
 a war with Great Britain, Scott determined to seek dis- 
 tinction in the service, and accordingly entered the regu- 
 lar army as a captain cf light artillery. 
 
 His excellent character as a disciplinarian and his 
 punctual attention to his duties led to his rapid pro- 
 motion, and we find him a lieut. -colonel in July 1812. 
 
 Being posted at Black Rock to protect the navy yard, 
 in October of that year, he was called upon by Lieu- 
 tenant (afterwards Commodore Elliot) to assist in cutting 
 out the Adams and Caledonia from under the guns of 
 Fort Erie. He furnished a detachment for the expedition, 
 which was successful ; and he afterwards successfully de- 
 
266 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 fended the vessels against a detachment of the British 
 who were sent out t j> retake them. 
 
 At the battle of Queenstown Heights, which took 
 place on the 12th of October, 1812, Colonel Scott dis- 
 tinguished himself by the ardour with which he aided 
 the expedition, a£ well as by his personal bravery in the 
 action. After the heights were stormed, Colonel Scott, 
 who had not before been allowed to cross the river, came 
 over as a volunteer ; and Colonel Van Rensellaer having 
 been wounded, General Wadsworth of the militia request- 
 ed Scott to take the command. The British sent up rein- 
 forcements of regulars and Indians frcna Fort George, 
 and a new battle ensued in which all the energies of 
 Scott were exerted. Colonel Chrystie, coming over to 
 the Canada side, look the command : the main body 
 of the British reinforcements, 8S0 strong, under General 
 Srieaffe, arrived, and the American militia could not be 
 got across the river ; so that a force of only 300 Ameri- 
 cans, opposed to some 1300 British and Indians, were 
 left at their mercy. After maintaining the contest for 
 many hours, the whole detachment surrendered. 
 
 Scott was taken with the other prisoners to Quebec, 
 where he was exchanged and sent in cartel to Boston. 
 His good conduct at Quebec in rescuing certain natural- 
 ized Irish prisoners who were threatened with being 
 treated as British subjects, was well rewarded. He 
 threatened the British in return with retaliation, heaa 
 for head, and the Irishmen were exchanged. Scott long 
 afterwards witnessed their landing at New York, and 
 being recognised by the poor fellows, was loudly thanked 
 *nd cheered for his rirm defence of their lives. 
 
 The next yeai, May 1813, Colonel Scott returned as 
 adjutant-general to the army near Niagara, where General 
 Dearborn commanded. 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCCTT. 267 
 
 The capture of York, in Upper Canada, opened the 
 campaign of 1S13. The troops which had been en- 
 gaged in this expedition, joined the army collected in 
 the neighbourhood of Fort Niagara, ab ,ut the middle oi 
 May. Preparations for an attack on Fort George, 
 situated on the opposite side of the stra : t, had already 
 far advanced under Major-General Lewis, and were 
 continued by the commander-in-chief, General Dear- 
 born, with increased diligence. Batteries were erected, 
 subsidiary to the fort, commanding the enemy's works; 
 and boats were collected or constructed for the transpor- 
 tation of the troops. While these exertions for an 
 attack were making on our past, the British were not 
 inactive in providing means for defence ; but both sides 
 were permitted to pursue their respective labours un- 
 molested. Those petty hostilities which disgraced the 
 first year, and many subsequent periods of the war, 
 here gave place to a seemingly chivalrous forbearance. 
 A slight incident interrupted this truce, and renewed all 
 the horrors of warfare. Some boats, which had been 
 built a few miles up the strait, were launched and con- 
 ducted down under the English batteries, with provok- 
 ing indifference. The enemy, determined to punish this 
 temerity, opened upon them a desultory and ineffectual 
 fire. This occured on the night of the — instant. It 
 was probably the intention of the commander-in-chief to 
 have reserved the fire of our batteries until a simulta- 
 neous attack could be made in another quarter by the 
 troops; but the fire, once communicated, could not be 
 controlled, and kindled into flame all our artillery. Un- 
 der the direction of Colonel Porter, assisted by Major 
 Totten of the engineers, and Captain Archer of the 
 artillery, they poured red-hot shot intc the enemy's 
 combustible works, with such skilful efficacy, that, ere 
 
268 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 the dawn of morning, they were a levelled mass ti 
 smoking ruins. The prematurity of this attack some- 
 what diminished the satisfaction which was felt at its 
 complete success. The army was not ready to take 
 advantage of the discouragement and panic which the 
 sight of his eviscerated fortress must have produced 
 on the enemy. He had time to recover from his dejec- 
 tion, and renew his defences. 
 
 At length, on the 26th of May, our preparations 
 were deemed sufficient, if not complete, and the army 
 was directed to embark the next morning at two o'clock 
 The fleet under Commodore Chauncey, which had ar 
 rived the night before, was at anchor off the creek (about 
 four miles down the lake from Fort Niagara), where the 
 army lay encamped. The following distribution of com- 
 mands had previously been settled: viz. Colonel Scott 
 commanded the advance, amounting to about 600 men, 
 consisting of a detachment of the 22d regiment, Forsyth's 
 corps of riflemen, two companies of his own regiment, 
 the second artillery, one company of the third artillery, 
 and a company of dismounted dragoons. The rest of 
 the troops, exclusive of the light artillery, were divided 
 into three brigades, amounting to about 1400 men each 
 — the first, consisting of detachments from the 6th, 15th, 
 and 16th regiments, and Colonel M'Clure's corps of 
 volunteers, was commanded by Brigadier-General Boyd; 
 the second, consisting of detachments from the 5th, 
 13th, 14th, and 20th regiments, was commanded by 
 Brigadier-Genera Winder ; the third, acting as a reserve, 
 was commanded by Brigadier-General Chandler. All 
 these troops were to be embarked in boats. Colonel 
 Macomb's corps of 3d artillery, to which the mariners 
 vvere attached, — having arrived in the fleet, was not in 
 duded in Ihe first arrangement, but directed to remain on 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. ^69 
 
 board, to act as the commander-in-chief — who, although 
 sick, was likewise to be there — might deem necessary. 
 The immediate command of the troops was assigned to 
 Major-General Lewis. 
 
 Every exertion was made to insure a punctual obe- 
 dience of the orders of the commander-in-chief; but 
 difficulties, inseparable from embarkations of this kind, 
 delayed the departure of the troops until about sunrise. 
 At that time the divisions of boats were seen moving, 
 in prescribed order, on the smooth surface of the 
 Ontario. > The fleet weighed anchor and accompanied 
 them. A dense foo- rested on the face of the waters, 
 
 o 
 
 and veiled their movements. 
 
 The points of attack had previously been determined. 
 A brief topographical explanation will indicate and 
 render, them understood. The course of the Niagara 
 strait, for about one mile from its mouth, describes the 
 segment of a circle, its convex side formed by the 
 American shore. Fort George stands on the Canadian 
 side, about thirteen hundred yards from the lake ; the 
 village of Newark interjacent. A cleared level plain 
 lies between Newark and the lake. Skirting this plain 
 and the rear of the village, is a thick wood, which, 
 commencing on the lake, spreads, with the exception 
 of a few farms, over the adjacent country. The lake 
 shore of this plain, and particularly of the wood, is 
 steep, high, and rather difficult of ascent, declivous a 
 few yards from the brink, and forming a natural breast- 
 work. The woody part of this shore was selected as 
 the principal point of attack. Auxiliary to this main 
 attack, and by way of diversion, a company of light 
 artillery, and a squadron of dragoons, under Colonel 
 Burn, were directed to march up the right bank of the 
 fctrait, and threaten a passage to intercept the route 
 
270 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 leading to Queenstown. Our batteries were likewise 
 opened, early in the morning, upon all the enemy's 
 works. 
 
 About nine o'clock A. M», when our fleet and boats 
 had arrived within about two miles of the Canadian 
 shore, a brisker breeze sprung up, dispersed the fo^r, 
 and unveiled them to the enemy. The ascending vapours, 
 gilt by the bright sun, floating above, — the lofty 
 fleet and bannered boats, moving below, together formed 
 a scene at once imposing and beautiful. The proud 
 or anxious feelings of the combatants subsided for a 
 moment, at the sight, into emotions far removed from 
 the mood of war. 
 
 The enemy lay concealed within the woods, and 
 sheltered behind the natural breast-work from the fire 
 of our smaller vessels, which had already taken com- 
 manding anchorage near the shore. The advance, under 
 Colonel Scott, led the van, — the other brigades follow- 
 ing in numerical order. As soon as the advance came 
 within reach of his shot, the enemy, with a kind of 
 magical celerity, arose from his conccaLnent, and poured 
 upon our troops a severe but ill-directed fire. Undis- 
 mayed by this reception, our boats, disdaining to return 
 a shot, only accelerated their course. They soon struck 
 the beach, and leaping upon if, formed "with rapidity, 
 and rushed up the bank. The unbroken and tar supe- 
 rior enemy soon obliged them to recoil. Two or three 
 times, it is believed, this gallant little band ascended, 
 with undiscouraged but ineffectual valour, during the 
 eight or ten minutes which intervened between the com- 
 mencement of the attack and the arrival of the first 
 brigade. This brigade now joining the advance, the 
 whole resolutely mounted the bank, and formed on its 
 crest, A destructive fire was mterchan<red for about 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. 27 J 
 
 ten minutes, with equal obstinacy on both sides, when 
 the different regiments being ordered to advance, the 
 enemy gave way, and retreated upon the rear of the 
 village. Just as the shout of victory proclaimed our 
 triumph, the second brigade reached the shore. Gen- 
 eral Chandler's reserve and Colonel Macomb's command 
 followed in quick succession. The whole line now 
 marched by the left into the contiguous plain, and form- 
 ing there, waited the arrival of Major-General Lewis. 
 In this position, the enemy, probably to stay our pro- 
 gress, and mask his intended retreat, opened upon us a 
 fire of shrapnel-shells from the village ; but was soon 
 silenced by our light artillery, under Colonel Porter. 
 Major-General Lewis now assumed the command, and 
 directed a pursuit of the enemy. Just as the head of 
 our column debouched from the village, the rear of the 
 enemy's column was seen evacuating the fort. The 
 pursuit was urged, but his main body was already out of 
 sight. As the flag of the fort was still flying, Captain 
 Hindman was detached to take possession of it. A few 
 officers, among whom were Scott and Porter, preceded 
 him. As they approached, a magazine exploded. The 
 remembrance of York made them pause ; but entering 
 immediately after, Scott took down the flag with his 
 own hands. Rejoining the column, he continued the 
 pursuit towards Queenstown. Colonel Burn now 
 crossed with his dragoons, and joined the army. An order 
 from the commander-in-chief arrested their march, 
 when within a few miles of Queenstown, and directed 
 them to return and encamp at Newark. The day was 
 now far spent, and the army exhausted ; it retrograded 
 to Fort George, and there reposed that night. 
 
 After this affair (July 1813) Colonel Scott was pro- 
 moted to the command of a regiment ; and, resigning his 
 
212 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 office of adjutant-general j he was present at the expedi- 
 tion to Burlington Heights, and the capture and burning 
 of York. He next commanded a battalion in the coiys 
 d'elite of General Macomb, and led the van-guard of 
 the army when it descended the St. Lawrence in the 
 expedition against Montreal. The expedition failed for 
 want of concert and co-operation among the generals, 
 who were to meet and act in concert. 
 
 In 1814 occurred the most brilliant campaign of the 
 whole war. The battles of Niagara, Chippewa, and 
 Queenstown, in which Scott bore a conspicuous part, 
 form the brightest ornaments of this famous campaign. 
 In our notice of General Worth we have given an 
 account of the battles of Chippewa and Niagara. 
 
 The following more minute account of the battle of 
 the Falls is contained in an extract from the journal of 
 an officer who was in the battle of Niagara, intimate 
 with General Brown and high in his confidence. 
 
 In pursuance of a previous determination, the army- 
 was busily engaged preparing for a rapid march upon 
 Burlington. About noon on the 25th, Colonel Swift, 
 who was posted at Lewistown, advised General Brown, 
 by express, that the enemy appeared in considerable 
 force in Queenstown and on its heights ; that four of his 
 fleet had arrived during the preceding night, and were 
 then lying near Fort Niagara, and that a number of 
 boats were in view, moving up the strait. Within a 
 few minutes after this intelligence had been received, 
 the commander-in-chief was further informed by Cap- 
 tain Denman, of the quartermaster's department, that 
 the enemy was landing at Lewistown, and that our bag- 
 gage and stores at Schlosser, and on their way thither, 
 were in danger of immediate capture. It was conceived 
 hat the most effectual method of recalling him from 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. '213 
 
 this object, was to put the army in motion towards 
 Queenstown. If he was in the field upon the Canada 
 side of the strait, our business was to meet and no-lit 
 him without loss of time, as General Brown had almost 
 ceased to hope for reinforcements or co-operation from 
 any quarter. The support, upon which the general 
 hitherto relied, had failed to appear, and the enemy 
 ha vino- the power of the lake could reinforce at pleasure. 
 General Scott, with the first brigade, Towson's 
 artillery, and all the dragoons and mounted men, were 
 accordingly put in march on the road leading towards 
 Queenstown. General Scott was particularly instructed 
 to report if the enemy appeared, and to call for assist- 
 ance if that were necessary — having the command of 
 the dragoons, he would have, it was believed, the means 
 of collecting and communicating intelligence. On the 
 general's arriving near the Falls, he learned that the 
 enemy was in force directly in his front, a narrow piece 
 of woods alone intercepting his view of them. Waiting 
 only to send this information, but not to receive any 
 communication in return, he advanced upon them. — 
 Hearing the report of the cannon and small arms, Gen- 
 eral Brown at once concluded that battle had commenced 
 between the advance of the armies, and, without waiting 
 for any information from General Scott, ordered the 
 2d brigade and all the artillery to march as rapidly as 
 possible to his support. Having done this, he rode with 
 his aids-de-camp and Major M'Ree with all speed to- 
 wards the scene of action. As he approached the Falls, 
 a full mile from the Chippewa, ae met Major Jones, 
 assistant adjutant-general, who had accompanied Gen 
 era! Scott, bearing a message from him, advising Gen- 
 eral Brown that he had met the enemy. From the 
 information given by Major Jones it was concluded to 
 
274 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 order up General Porter's command. Major Jones was 
 sent with the order to General Porter. Advancing a 
 little farther, General Brown and suite met Major Wood 
 of the corps of engineers, who had also accompanied 
 General Scott. He reported that the conflict between 
 Scott and the enemy was close and desperate, and urged 
 that reinforcements might be hurried to his support. 
 The reinforcements were now marching with all possi- 
 ble rapidity. Major Wood accompanied the command- 
 ing general to the field of battle. Upon his arrival the 
 general found that General Scott had passed the wood 
 and engaged the enemy on the Queenstown road, and 
 on the ground to the left of it, with the 9th, 11th, and 
 22d regiments, and Towson's artillery. The 2oth had 
 been thrown to the right, to be governed by circum- 
 stances. 
 
 Apprehending that these troops were much exhausted, 
 and knowing that they had suffered severely in the con- 
 test, Gen. Brown determined to interpose a new line with 
 the advancing troops, and thus disengage General Scott 
 and hold his brigade in reserve. By this time Captains 
 Biddle and Richie's companies of artillery had come 
 into action, and the head of General Ripley's column 
 was nearly up with the right of General Scott's line. 
 At this moment the enemy fell back, and, as was be- 
 lieved, in consequence of the arrival of fresh troops, 
 which they could see and began to feel. General Rip- 
 ley was ordered to pass Scott's line and display his 
 column in front. The movement was commenced in 
 obedience to the order. Majors M'Ree and Wood had 
 been rapidly reconnoitering the enemy and his position. 
 M'Ree reported that the enemy appeared to have taken 
 a new position, and with his artillery occupied a height 
 which gave him great advantages, it being the key of 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. 275 
 
 the whole position. To secure the victory it was neces- 
 sary to cairy his artillery and seize the height. M'Ree 
 was ordered by the commander-in-chief to conduct Rip- 
 ley's column on the Queenstown road, with a view to 
 this object, and to prepare the 21st regiment, under 
 Colonel Miller, for this duty. The 2d brigade imme- 
 diately advanced upon the Queenstown road. General 
 Brown, with his aids-de-camp and Major Wood, passed 
 to the left of the 2d brigade, in front of the first, 
 towards the enemy's '.rtillery : an extended line of 
 infantry was formed for the support of his artillery. 
 
 The 1st regiment of mfantry, under the command of 
 Colonel Nicholas, which had arrived that day, and*'was 
 attached to neither of the brigades, but marched to the 
 field of battle in the rear of the 2d, was ordered 
 promptly to break off to the left, and form a line facing 
 the enemy's on the height, with a view of drawing his 
 fire and attracting his attention, as Miller advanced 
 with the bayonet upon his left flank to carry the artil- 
 lery. As the 1st regiment, conducted by Major Wood, 
 and commanded by Colonel Nicholas, approached its 
 position, the commander-in-chief rode to Colonel Miller 
 and ordered him to advance with the bayonet and carry 
 the enemy's artillery — he replied, with great prompt- 
 ness and good humour, " It shall be done, sir." At this 
 moment the 1st regiment gave way under the fire of the 
 enemy; but Miller, without regard to this occurrence, 
 advanced steadily and gallantly to his object, and car- 
 ried the heignts and the cannon in a style rarely equal- 
 led — never excelled. At the point of time when Miller 
 moved, the 23d regiment was on his right, a little in the 
 rear — General Ripley led this regiment : it had some 
 desperate fighting, and in a degree gave way, but was 
 promptly raided and brought up and formed upon the 
 
276 SKETCH OK THE LIFE OF 
 
 right of the 21st, and the detachments of he 17th and 
 19th. 
 
 General Ripley, being now with his brigade, formed 
 in line, with the captured cannon, nine pieces, in his 
 rear, and the enemy driven from their commanding 
 ground — the 1st regiment having been rallied, was 
 brought into line by Colonel Nicholas on the left of the 
 2d brigade; and General Porter, coming up at this 
 time, occupied with his command the extreme left — our 
 artillery formed on the right and between the 23d and 
 21st regiments. 
 
 Having given the order to Colonel Miller to storm 
 the heights, and carry the enemy's cannon as he ad- 
 vanced, General Brown moved to the rear of his right 
 flank with Major Wood and Captain Spencer, as far as the 
 Queenstown road. Turning down that road, he passed 
 directly in the rear of the 23d regiment, as they 
 advanced to the support of Colonel Miller. The shouts 
 of the American soldiers on the height, at this moment, 
 convinced him of Miller's cuccess, and he hastened 
 towards the place, designing to turn from the Queenstown 
 road up Lundy's Lane. In the act of doing so, Wood 
 and Spencer, who were about a horse's length before 
 him, were very near riding upon a body of the enemy, 
 and nothing prevented them from doing this, but an 
 officer exclaiming before them, " They are the Yankees :" 
 the exclamation halted the American officers, and upon 
 looking down the road they saw a line of British 
 infantry drawn up near the north fence of the road, 
 with its right resting near Lundy's Lane. 
 
 The officer who gave the alarm, had at that moment 
 discovered Major Jessup. The major, as has been al- 
 ready stated, had been ordered by General Scott, at 
 the commencement of the action, to take ground to his 
 
MAJOR- GENERAL SCOTT. 277 
 
 right He had succeeded in turning the enemy's left 
 flank, had captured General Riall and sundry other 
 officers, and sent them to camp; then, feeling his way 
 silently towards where the battle was raging, he had 
 brought his regiment, the 25th, with but little compara- 
 tive loss, up to the southerly fence of the Queenstown 
 road, a little to the east of Lundy's Lane. The moment 
 the British officer gave Jessup notice of his having dis- 
 covered him, Jessup ordered his command to fire upon 
 the enemy's line. 
 
 The lines could not have been more than four rods 
 apart ; Jessup behind the south fence, the British in front 
 of the north. The slaughter was dreadful: the enemy's 
 line fled down the Queenstown road at the third or 
 fourth fire. As the firing ceased, General Brown ap- 
 proached Major Jessup ; the latter asked where he should 
 form his regiment, and was directed to move up Lundy's 
 Lane and form upon the right of the second brigade. 
 
 The enemy rallying his broken corps, and having re- 
 ceived reinforcements, was now discovered in good order 
 and in great force. The commanding general doubted 
 the correctness of the information, and, to ascertain the 
 truth, passed in person with his suite in front of our line. 
 He could now no longer doubt, as a more extended line 
 than he had seen during the engagement was near anc 1 
 advancing upon us. 
 
 Captain Spencer, without saying a word, put spur; 
 to his horse and rode directly up to the advancing line 
 then, turning to the left towards the enemy's right, in 
 quired, in a strong and firm voice, " What regiment if 
 that ?" and was as promptly answered, " The Roya 1 , 
 Scots, sir." General Brown and suite now threw 
 themselves behind our own troops without loss of time 
 and patiently awaited the attack. 
 
218 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 The enemy advanced slowly and firmly upon us : 
 perfect silence was preserved throughout both armies, 
 until the enemy's line approached to within from four 
 to six rods — our troops had levelled their pieces, and the 
 artillery was prepared — the order to fire was given — 
 most awful was its effect : the lines closed in part before 
 that of the enemy was broken : he then retired pre- 
 cipitately, the American fire following him. The field 
 was covered with the slain, but not an enemy capable 
 of marching was to be seen. We dressed our lines 
 upon the ground we occupied : General Brown was not 
 disposed to leave '.t in the dark, knowing it to be the 
 best in the neighbourhood : his intention then was to 
 maintain it until day should dawn, and then to be 
 governed by circumstances. 
 
 Our gallant and accomplished foe did not give us 
 much time for deliberation. He showed himself again 
 within twenty minutes, apparently undismayed and in 
 good order. 
 
 General Ripley now urged the commander-in-chief to 
 order up Scott, who had all this time been held in 
 reserve with three of his battalions. The commander 
 rode in person to General Scott and ordered him to 
 advance. That officer was prepared and expecting the 
 call. As Scott advanced towards Ripley's right, Gen- 
 eral Brown passed to the left to speak with General 
 Porter, and see the condition and countenance of his 
 militia, who, at that moment, were thrown into some 
 confusion under a most galling and deadly fire from the 
 enemy ; they were, however, kept to their duty by the 
 exertions of their gallant chief, and most nobly sus- 
 tained the conflict. The enemy was repulsed and again 
 driven out of sight. But a short time, however, had 
 elapsed, when he was once more distinctly seen, in 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. 279 
 
 great force, advancing upon our main line under the 
 command of Ripley and Porter. 
 
 The direction that Scott had given to his column 
 would have enabled him, within five minutes, to have 
 formed line in the rear of the enemy's right, and thus 
 have brought him between two fires. But in a moment 
 most unexpected, a flank fire from a party of the enemy, 
 concealed upon our left, falling upon the centre of 
 Scott's command, when in open column, blasted our 
 proud expectations. His column was severed in two , 
 one part passing to the rear, the other by the right flank 
 of platoons towards our main line. About this period 
 General Brown received his first wound, a musket-ball 
 passing through his right thigh. A few minutes after- 
 wards, Captain Spencer, aid-de-camp to General Brown, 
 received his mortal wound. 
 
 By this time the enemy had nearly closed with our 
 main line. Moving up to the left of this line, General 
 Brown received a violent blow from a ball of some 
 description upon his left side. The ball did not enter, 
 but such was its force that it nearly unhorsed him. In 
 the general's own words, "he began to doubt his ability 
 to sit his horse ; and, meeting with his confidential 
 friend, Colonel Wood, he thought proper to inform him 
 of his wounds and condition." Wood exclaimed, with 
 great emotion : " Never mind, my dear general, you are 
 gaining the greatest victory that was ever gained by 
 your nation." " His gallant soul (says General Brown) 
 was exclusively occupied with the battle that was then 
 raging, if possible, with redoubled fury." 
 
 This was the last desperate effort made by the enemy 
 
 to regain his position and artillery. A broader display of 
 
 heroism was never exhibited ; the hostile lines met in 
 
 several places, and we captured a lumber of prisoners 
 
 18 
 
2S0 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 who surrendered at the point of the bayonet. Porter's 
 volunteers were not excelled by the regulars during this 
 charge. They were seen precipitated by their heroic 
 commander upon the enemy's line, which they broke 
 and dispersed, making many prisoners. The enemy 
 seemed now to be effectually routed — they disappeared. 
 In a conversation which occurred a few minutes after- 
 wards, between General Brown, Colonels Wood and 
 M'Ree, and two or three other officers, it was the 
 unanimous belief of the whole circle, that we had no- 
 thing to fear from the enemy with whom we had been 
 contending ; but it appeared to be admitted upon all 
 hands, that it would be judicious to retire to camp. 
 The idea did not occur to any one present that it would 
 be necessary to leave behind a man or a cannon. Colonel 
 M'Ree expressly stated, that there would be no diffi- 
 culty in removing the cannon by hand : wagons had been 
 provided for the w T ounded. General Brown, suffering 
 severely from his wound, now moved off with Captain 
 Austen, his surviving aid-de-camp, observing to the 
 other officers, that they would remain and aid General 
 Ripley by all the means in their power. 
 
 As the general moved towards camp, many scatter- 
 ing men were seen by him on the road ; none appeared 
 to be alarmed ; not a man was running away ; but, hav- 
 ing lost their officers, had taken the liberty to seek for 
 w T ater, and were either drinking or struggling for drink. 
 This scene confirmed General Brown in the belief that 
 it was proper for the army to return to camp, for the 
 purpose of being re-organized and refreshed before morn- 
 ing ; that being the only situation where our scattering 
 men could, in the night, be certainly collected and 
 arranged to their companies and battalions. An officei 
 was accordingly sent to say to General Ripley^ that the 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. 281 
 
 wounded men and cannon being brought off, the army 
 would return to camp. 
 
 Being supported on his horse, the commander-in-chief 
 moved slowly on to his tent. It was not many minutes 
 before it was reported to him that General Ripley had 
 returned to camp, having left the captured cannon on 
 the field. General Ripley being immediately sent for, 
 General Brown stated to him, that no doubt remained 
 upon his mind but that the enemy had retired, and that 
 our victory was complete. He appeared to be of the 
 same opinion, as was every officer present. 
 
 General Brown then, in strong and emphatical lan- 
 guage, ordered General Ripley to re-organize his bat- 
 talions, to see that they were refreshed with whatever 
 comforts it might be in his power to afford, and put 
 himself, with every man he could muster, on the field of 
 battle, as the day dawned, there and then to be governed 
 by circumstances : — at all events to bring off the cap- 
 tured cannon. It was not believed that the enemy 
 would dare to attack him if he showed a good counte- 
 nance. General Ripley left General Brown with the 
 conviction that he would execute the order given him — 
 he did not make the slightest objection to it — no objec- 
 tion was made from any quarter. 
 
 As day approached, finding that the columns had not 
 moved, General Brown ordered his staff to go to the 
 commanding officers of every corps, and order them to 
 be promptly prepared to march in obedience to the 
 order given to General Ripley ; but it was sunrise be- 
 fore the army had crossed the Chippewa. General 
 Ripley led on his troops as far as Bndgewater mills ; 
 halting his column there, he returned to the commander- 
 in-chief, and objected to proceeding further — General 
 
282 SKETCH OF THE 1 IFE OF 
 
 Brown persisted : when he informed him that General 
 Porter was also opposed to proceeding. At these 
 words, General Brown replied, " Sir, you will do as you 
 please :" and had no farther intercourse with him until 
 they met at Buffalo. 
 
 General Brown entertained no doubt of the intelli- 
 gence or personal bravery of General Ripley ; nor did 
 he ever express himself to that effect. In consequence, 
 however, of the events of the night of the 25th, but 
 more especially of the morning of the 26th, his confi- 
 dence in him as a commander appeared to be somewhat 
 diminished. He was apprehensive that he dreaded re- 
 sponsibility more than danger — that he had a greater 
 stock of physical than of moral courage. General Scott 
 and himself being both severely wounded, he, therefore, 
 without loss of time, despatched a courier to General 
 Gaines, ordering him on to take the command of the 
 gallant remains of the army of Niagara, that were now 
 preparing to defend themselves within the lines of Fort 
 Erie. 
 
 Scott fell severely wounded in the battle of the Falls. 
 At first his life was despaired of; but after he had suffi- 
 ciently recovered to be removed to Philadelphia and 
 placed under the care of Drs. Physic and Chapman, he 
 was soon completely recovered. When peace returned 
 it found him a major-general, and specially honoured by 
 a gold medal conferred by a resolution of Congress of 
 November 1814, for the battles of Chippewa and Nia- 
 gara. In 1816 the Virginia legislature conferred upon 
 General Scott a sword, as a token of the high opinion 
 that assembly entertained of his gallantry and dis- 
 tinguished services in the battles of Chippewa and 
 Niagara. The legislature of New Yorx also conferred 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. 283 
 
 a sword on Reneral Scott, with a vote of thanks for his 
 services. 
 
 General Scott in 1817 married Miss Mayo, of Rich- 
 mond, Virginia, by whom he has several children. 
 
 We pass over the incidents of the Black Hawk war, 
 the Florida war, and the threatened border war with 
 Canada ; because these afforded no opportunity for the 
 display of those brilliant military talents which distin- 
 guished General Scott in early life. We believe, how- 
 ever, that it is generally admitted in military circles that 
 General Scott's plan for terminating the Florida war 
 would have brought the whole affair to a speedy close ; 
 and that his being withdrawn from the command pro- 
 tracted it. It is also admitted that his services in bring- 
 ing those New York border troubles to an end were of 
 the utmost importance — that his skill and prudence as 
 a diplomatist were fully equal to his courage and con- 
 duct as an officer. 
 
 The gallant Taylor was placed in command of the 
 Army of Occupation, on the recommendation of General 
 Scott. His success has evinced the sound judgment of 
 Scott in the selection. When actual hostilities occurred; 
 General Scott was offered the chief command. In order 
 to afford General Taylor a full opportunity to further 
 distinguish himself, Scott suggested to the government 
 the propriety of his passing the summer months, the 
 period of inevitable inaction, in collecting and drilling the 
 forces, necessary for effective operations in Mexico ; and 
 then joining Taylor with large reinforcements. 
 
 The subsequent character of the war has evinced the 
 superior judgment of General Scott in this plan of opera- 
 tions. As this plan was not acceded to, he requested to 
 be ordered at once to the scene of action, and was per- 
 emptorily refused, 
 
284 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 In November, he received the following order : 
 
 War Department, Washington, ) 
 November 23tf, 1846. j 
 
 Sir : The president, several days since, communi- 
 cated in person to you his orders to repair to Mexico, to 
 take the command of the forces there assembled, and par- 
 ticularly to organize and set on foot an expedition to 
 operate on the Gulf coast, if, on arriving at the theatre 
 of action, you shall deem it to be practicable. It is not 
 proposed to control your operations by definite and 
 positive instructions, but you are left to prosecute them 
 as your judgment, under a full view of all the circum- 
 stances, shall dictate. The work is before you, and the 
 means provided, or to be provided, for accomplishing it, 
 are committed to you, in the full confidence that you 
 will use them to the best advantage. 
 
 The objects which it is desirable to obtain have been 
 indicated, and it is hoped that you will have the 
 requisite force to accomplish them. 
 
 Of this you must be the judge, when preparations 
 
 are made, and the time for action arrived. 
 
 Very respectfully, your obedient servant, 
 
 W. L. MARCY, 
 
 Secretary of War 
 Gen. Winfield Scott. 
 
 In obedience to this order, General Scott left Wash- 
 ington on the 24th of November, and sailed from New 
 York on the 30th. 
 
 He reached the Rio Grande on the 1st of January. 
 As the force which he found there was totally inade- 
 quate to the object of capturing Vera Cruz, he was 
 under the necessity of detaching a portion of General 
 Taylor's army, and General Worth was accordingly 
 
ma; or-general scott. 285 
 
 ordered to leave Saltillo, with a body of regular infan- 
 try, requisite for storming Vera Cruz, leaving 10,000 
 volunteers, and several companies of regular artillery, 
 with General Taylor. These forces were distributed 
 in the different parts under his command, so as to leave 
 him, as we have clready seen, but 5400 men for Buena 
 Vista. 
 
 The troops from the upper Rio Grande were taken on 
 board transports at Tampico, and joined others who 
 were ordered to rendezvous at the island of Lobos, 
 about one hundred and twenty-five miles west and 
 north of the city of Vera Cruz. This is a small island 
 about a mile in circumference. On the 15th of Feb- 
 ruary, there were encamped at this place the Charleston 
 regiment, seven companies of the 1st Pennsylvania 
 regiment, three of the 2d, three of the Mississippi, 
 ten North Carolina, six Louisiana, and a New York 
 regiment and 400 regulars under Major Bates, amount- 
 ing in all to 4000 men, with eighteen first-class vessels 
 at anchor, all awaiting the arrival of the other forces 
 under General Scott. 
 
 Meantime a regiment of Louisiana volunteers in the 
 Ondiaka were wrecked on the coast. General Cos, with 
 a large Mexican force, demanded their surrender. But 
 Colonel de Russy, their commander, having shown a 
 firm front, although his men were nearly without arms, 
 delayed a final answer till night ; and then marched off, 
 leaving the camp-fires burning, and the heavy baggage, 
 and reaching Tampico by a rapid march, without en- 
 countering opposition. 
 
 It was not till the 7th of March that General Scott, 
 after concentrating his forces, amounting to about 12,000 
 men, and embarking them in the fleet, consisting of 
 
ilG SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 skips and transports of all sizes amounting to one hun- 
 dred, arrived at Anton Lizardo. 
 
 In company with Commodore Conner, then com- 
 manding the naval force, the general, in the steamer 
 Petrita, made a reconnoissance, and selected the beach 
 due west from the island of Sacrificios as the most 
 suitable point for making the landing of the troops for 
 the investment of Vera Cruz. 
 
 The commodore's official letter to the secretary of the 
 navy, dated off Sacrificios, thus describes the landing. 
 
 " The anchorage near this place being extremely con- 
 tracted, 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 transportation to 
 Sacrificios. Accordingly, on the morning of the 9th, 
 at daylight, all necessary preparations — such as launch- 
 ing and numbering the boats, detailing officers, &c, — 
 having been previously made, this transfer was com- 
 menced. 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 numbers in proportion. This part of 
 the movement was completed very successfully about 
 eleven o'clock A. M., and a few minutes thereafter the 
 squadron under my command, accompanied by the 
 commanding general, in the steamship Massachusetts, 
 and such cf the transports as had been selected for the 
 purpose, got under way. 
 
 " The weather was very fine — indeed we could not 
 have been more favoured in this particular than we 
 were. We had a fresh and yet gentle breeze from the 
 south-east, and a perfectly smooth sea. The passage 
 to Sacrificios occupied us between two and three hours. 
 Each ship came in and anchored without the slightest 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. £87 
 
 :>rder or confusion, in the small space allotted to her 
 he harbour being still very much crowded, notwith- 
 tding the number of transports we had left behind, 
 xnc disembarkation commenced on the instant. 
 
 "Whilst we were transferring the troops fiom the 
 ships to the surf-boats (sixty-five in number), I directed 
 the steamers Spitfire and Vixen, and the five gun-boats, 
 to form a line parallel with and close in to the beach, 
 to cover the landing. This order was promptly exe- 
 cuted, 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 compliments of troops, they assembled in 
 a line, abreast, between the fleet and the gun-boats; 
 and when all were ready, they pulled in together, under 
 the guidance of a number of 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 simultaneously. No enemy appeared to 
 offer us the slightest opposition. The first line being 
 landed, the boats in successive trips relieved the men- 
 of-war and transports of the remaining troops, by ten 
 o'clock P. M. The whole army (save a few straggling 
 companies,) consisting of upwards of 10,000 men, were 
 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 ener- 
 getic performance of their duty. I cannot but express 
 to the department the great satisfaction I have derived 
 from witnessing their efforts to contribute all in their 
 
288 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 power to the success of their more fortunate brethren of 
 the army. The weather still continuing fine, to-day we 
 are engaged in landing the artillery, horses, provisions, 
 and other material. The steamer New Orleans, with 
 the Louisiana regiment of volunteers, 800 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. Another transport arrived 
 at this anchorage to-day. Her troops have also been 
 landed. 
 
 " General Scott has now with him upwards of 
 11,000 men. At his request, I permitted the marines 
 of the squadron, under Captain Edson, to join him, as 
 a part of the 3d regiment of artillery. The general- 
 in- chief landed this morning, and the army put itself 
 in motion at an early hour, to form its lines around the 
 city. There has been some distant firing of shot and 
 shells from the town and castle upon the troops, as 
 they advanced, but without result. I am still of the 
 opinion, expressed in my previous communications, as 
 to the inability of the enemy to hold out for any length 
 of time. The castle has, at most, but four or five 
 weeks' provisions, and the town about enough to last 
 for the same time." 
 
 The following vivid descriptions are from the pens of 
 different persons who witnessed the landing of the 
 besieging army from the shore. The first is from the 
 correspondent of the New Orleans Picayune. 
 
 " It w T ould take a page of our paper to give full effect 
 to a description of the first landing of our troops on the 
 afternoon of the 9th — a more stirring spectacle has 
 probably never been witnessed in America. In the first 
 line there were no less than seventy heavy surf-boats. 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. 289 
 
 containing nearly 4000 regulars, and all of them expected 
 to meet an enemy before they struck the shore. 
 
 " Notwithstanding this, every man was anxious to be 
 first — they plunged into the water waist-deep as they 
 reached the shore — the "stars and stripes" were 
 instantly floating — a rush was made for the sand-hills, 
 and amid loud shouts they pressed onward. Three long 
 and loud cheers rose from their comrades still on board, 
 awaiting to be embarked, and meanwhile the tops and 
 every portion of the foreign vessels were crowded with 
 spectators of the scene. Not one who witnessed it will 
 ever forget the landing. Why the Mexicans did not 
 oppose us is a greater mystery than ever, considering 
 their great advantages at the time, and that they have 
 since opposed every step of our advance." 
 
 A correspondent of the Weekly Herald writes as 
 follows : 
 
 Camp of the Besieging Armt, ) 
 jive miles below Vera Cruz, March 9 ; 1847. > 
 
 1 arrived at Anton Lizardo to-day about twelve 
 o'clock, in the steamship New Orleans, which came tc 
 at the anchorage among the fleet. Immediately aftei 
 the steamship's anchoring, the Massachusetts sailed by 
 us, when General Scott appeared in the shrouds of the 
 vessel, and inquired for General Quitman. As soon as 
 the general responded to the call, General Scott remark- 
 ed — « General Quitman, we are to land in the enemy's 
 country. What is your force on board, and the condition 
 of your men ?" General Quitman replied — " Six hun- 
 dred and fifty, and in good condition." " Your position, 
 sir, will be in the second line, under the command of 
 General Patterson." Shortly afterwards General Jessup 
 visited General Patterson and tendered his persona 
 
290 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 services and those of his staff, which were accepted : 
 and they are now on shore, « all ready," if circum* 
 stances require. 
 
 Purser Thomas B. Nalle, of the navy, attached to the 
 frigate Potomac, who came passenger in the steamship 
 New Orleans, finding it impracticable to join the ship, 
 has volunteered his services to General Shields, has 
 been accepted as his aid, and is now acting in that 
 capacity. 
 
 At eleven o'clock the fleet set sail for Sacrificios, the 
 Princeton leading, with the Raritan in tow. Atone o'clock, 
 the steamer Vixen, with five gun-boats, took a survey of 
 the coast and anchored off the shore opposite the point, 
 when the troops landed. 
 
 The first and second, and part of the third, lines are 
 now safely landed on the beach about five miles below 
 the city of Vera Cruz, contrary to all expectation, with- 
 out any resistance. The first line, composed of the 2d 
 and 3d artillery, and 4th, 5th, 6th, and 8th infantry ; Cap- 
 tain Blanchard's company Louisiana volunteers (attached 
 to 5th infantry) ; and Captain Williams's company Ken- 
 tucky volunteers (attached to 6th infantry), under com* 
 mand of General Worth, disembarked on board the 
 barges between Sacrificios and the main land between 
 two and three o'clock, P M. , and formed in line on the 4th 
 infantry, preparatory to their departure for the shore. At 
 a signal gun from the Massachusetts, at four o'clock, the 
 first line " gave way" on their oars and pulled heartily 
 for the landing. This, with the sailing of the fleet from 
 Anton Lizardo, was decidedly the most magnificent view 
 ever presented to the eye of an American citizen. I 
 have a perspective draught of it, which I will send you, 
 with a general account of the battle. 
 
 The second line, under General Patterson, composed 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. 291 
 
 of General Quitman's, General Shields's, and General 
 Pillow's brigades, with some artillery, landed directly 
 afterwards, and General Twiggs's, the reserve line, made 
 up of the 1st and 4th artillery, mounted rifles, 1st, 2d, 
 3d, and 7th infantry, are now landing, and before day- 
 light will probably be on the beach, as also a batteiy of 
 heavy artillery, under Captain Taylor. The mountain 
 rocket and howitzer company have their battery planted. 
 All the troops that have yet landed are formed in line of 
 battle, and will rest on their arms during the night. 
 
 Notwithstanding we have now about 6000 troops on 
 shore, not a single whisper can be heard along the whole 
 extent of the line — all are listening for the first signal of 
 alarm. If the enemy should visit us before daylight, 
 they will find us ready to give them a warm reception. 
 
 During the landing of the troops to-day, I was much 
 pleased to see Commodore Conner in his small boat 3 
 superintending in person the landing of the troops. 
 
 Camp of the Besieging Army, j 
 March 10th, 1847. j 
 
 At two o'clock this morning, the camp was aroused by a 
 brisk fire from the enemy, and the balls came whistling 
 through, " as thick as hail," breaking one man's thigh, 
 and wounding two others. Instead of " beating the long 
 roll," as usual in cases of alarm, a small detachment, 
 under Captain Gordon, was sent out to reconnoitre. He 
 nad not proceeded over two or three hundred yards. 
 when he found his command in the close vicinity of a 
 body of men. He hailed them, and they answered him 
 in English, but the captain not admiring their accent, 
 withdrew his small force a short distance, and again 
 hailed, when he was answered with a volley of musketry 
 from their whole body, which was returned by the de- 
 
292 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 tachment, and had the effect of compelling the Mexicans 
 to retire towards the town. Nothing but the sagacity of 
 an experienced and able officer prevented the capture 
 or destruction of the whole reconnoitering detachment. 
 
 The steamer Spitfire, Captain Tatnall, at sunrise took 
 position in front of the castle and town, and commenced 
 a fire, by way of " opening the ball," which she con- 
 tinued for about an hour, and which was returned by 
 the castle and city. 
 
 Shortly after the Spitfire commenced firing, the 1st 
 and 2d divisions moved in a column up the beach 
 towards the city, about a mile, and proceeded to invest 
 the place. A Mexican force of cavalry and infantry, 
 numbering perhaps four or five regiments in all, showed 
 themselves on the san i heights towards the city, at the 
 distance of half a mile from our advance, and com- 
 menced firing musketry. One of the mountain howitzers 
 and rockets were placed on the hills, and fired a few 
 shots and sent a few rockets whizzing through the air, 
 without any effect. The Mexicans appeared to be a 
 little shy of them at fi:st, but soon recommenced spread- 
 ing their line along the hill, and firing their muskets. 
 Captain Taylor was then ordered to try their mettle 
 with a six-pounder, which had not been fired but a few 
 times before they witndrew behind the hill, and left for 
 some place secure from langer. In this firing, there 
 was one Mexican killed. 
 
 General Worth succeeded in taking Ins position on the 
 right of the line of investment by eleven o'clock. The 
 line circumvallating the city, when completed, will run 
 along a chain of sand hills about three miles from the 
 city, ranging from three hundred to fifteen hundred feet 
 high, and completely overlooking and commanding the 
 town and fortifications, but the heavy guns from the 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. 295 
 
 castle can be brought to bear upon the right wing of 
 the line, where no doubt the quarters will be very hot. 
 
 As soon as General Worth had occupied his ground, 
 General Patterson's division took up its march, with 
 General Pillow's brigade in advance, for the purpose of 
 forming on the left of General Worth. The advance, 
 however, did not proceed over a mile befoie they be- 
 came engaged with the enemy in a thick cluster of 
 chapparal. A rapid fire immediately ensued, whicr 
 lasted about twenty minutes. The Mexicans retreated, 
 and no loss on e ther side, that I could ascertain posi- 
 tively ; though 1 have heard it repeatedly this evening 
 that five dead Mexicans had been found. 
 
 General Pillow again commenced extending the line, 
 but owing to the great difficulty and labour of cutting a 
 road in the chapparal, through which he had to pass, he 
 had not proceeded more than half a mile up to four 
 o'clock P. M., when he again came in contact with the 
 enemy, who were in ambuscade. The firing was so 
 heavy, and appeared so to increase, that General Pat- 
 terson despatched the New York regiment, of General 
 Shields's brigade, to the assistance of General Pillow — 
 but only one company of the New Yorkers arrived at 
 the point of attack, before General Pillow had routeo 
 the enemy by a charge. In this engagement, two of 
 the 1st Pennsylvanians were slightly wounded, viz. : M. 
 Crann, of company C, and T. Tice, of company F. 
 
 A body of Mexicans was shortly afterwards dis- 
 covered, through a glass, on the left dank of General 
 Pillow's command, at a house known as a magazine, 
 and I expect it has been occupied as such. A six- 
 pounder was brought to bear on it from one of the 
 heights in our possession, which caused them to leave 
 without ceremony. 
 19 
 
296 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 Towards sundown General Pillow's brigade, very 
 unexpectedly, succeeded in reaching one of the highest 
 points in the rear of the city, and planting the " Stars 
 and Stripes,' 3 which they greeted, as one of the Tennes- 
 seans said — with " three of the biggest kind of cheers.'* 
 
 The batteries from town and castle kept throwing 
 thirteen-inch shells, and twenty-four-pound round shot, 
 at the entire line, until dark. One of them exploded im- 
 mediately in front of General Worth and staff, and a 
 portion of it passed through Captain Blanchard's com- 
 pany, but fortunately without injuring any one. 
 
 General Quitman's brigade now moved forward and 
 encamped on the right of General Pillow. 
 
 Camp of the Besieging Army, ) 
 three miles in rear of city, March lltk. 1847. j 
 
 This morning, shortly after daylight, the batteries 
 from the castle and the town opened on our lines, and 
 continued with short intervals throughout the day. I 
 sincerely regret to announce that among our losses to- 
 day, is the death of Captain William Alburtis, of the 2d 
 infantry. His head was shot off with a twenty-four 
 pound shot from the city, while marching with the regi- 
 ment to join General Twiggs, at the north end. Cap- 
 tain Alburtis was a printer, and former editor of the 
 Virginia Republican, at Martinsburg, Ya. There was 
 also killed by the cannonade, Private Cunningham, of 
 company A, mounted rifles, and a drummer boy of 
 company B, 2d artillery, had his arm shot off. 
 
 About seven o'clock this morning, General Quitman's 
 brigade was ordered to relieve General Pillow from the 
 position he had occupied during the night, in order that 
 his troops might get their breakfast, and procure water 
 to last during the day. The Mexicans saw our party 
 
MAJOR- GENERAL SCOTT. 29! 
 
 leaving the height, but did not see the other coming up 
 with their cavalry, expecting, no doubt, to steal upor 
 (heir rear, but they were very much mistaken. Gen 
 eral Quitman advanced to the top of the hill, and a 
 rapid fire at long shots was kept up for about an hour. 
 Captain Davis, of the Georgia regiment, with twenty 
 riflemen, were sent as skirmishers, to incline round 
 under the hill and engage them at close quarters. As 
 soon as they observed Captain Davis about 200 ad- 
 vanced on him, but with his small force he held them in 
 check until Colonel Jackson, with the balance of three 
 companies, and Colonel Dickenson, with his regiment, 
 came to his assistance, when the enemy were compelled 
 to retreat under the cover of the guns of the town, with 
 the loss of several dead and some wounded. Our loss 
 in this affair this morning, is seven slightly wounded. 
 
 The column of General Twiggs moved up this morn- 
 ing, with the mounted rifles in advance, at nine o'clock, 
 to take position on the left of the line. The under- 
 taking was a most arduous one, but with General 
 Twiggs there is " no such word as fail." When his 
 cannon could not be hauled by horses they were pulled 
 and lifted by his men, and they were taken up and over 
 sand ridges that I should think it utterly impossible and 
 beyond the physical strength of men to surmount. The 
 advance of this column arrived at their destination on 
 the sea-shore above the town about two o'clock, and 
 the rear closed up at sundown. 
 
 This entirely, now, circumscribes the place, and the 
 entire line investing occupies a space of ground about 
 eight miles in length. As the troops lay stretched along 
 the hills and valleys, with the stars and stripes dotted 
 here and there, fluttering in the breeze, they present to 
 the view a majestic and sublime appearance. The 
 
SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 enemy are now completely within our grasp, and 
 whether they can rend asunder the chains that bind 
 them to the confined limits of the walls of the city and 
 castle, remains to be seen. General Worth occupies the 
 right, General Twiggs the left, and General Patterson 
 the centre. If either of these officers can be moved 
 from their positions one foot by any force that can be 
 brought against them, I am very much mistaken. Hav- 
 ing our position, in the course of two or three days, the 
 mortars and heavy cannon will be planted on the heights, 
 when the enemy will have a*i opportunity of witnessing 
 the effects of our shot upon their city. 
 
 I was informed at a late hour last night that Colonel 
 Persifor F. Smith, with his rifles, has had a very pretty 
 fight with a force of about 800 from the city, and com- 
 pelled them to retire in quick time, with a loss of about 
 twenty-five killed and several wounded, and sustaining 
 a loss of two or three privates killed and wounded. 
 
 I have made diligent inquiry into the health of the 
 army to-day, and the surgeons state that they never 
 *new the army to be in better health and condition, and 
 no evidence of anything like vomito. 
 
 From the Correspondence of Tropic. 
 
 Off Vera Cruz, March 13th, 1847. 
 # # * Nothing has been more remarkable 
 in this campaign than the quietness with which the 
 troops were permitted to land. I have the assurance 
 of officers, whose experience qualifies them to judge, 
 that three pieces of cannon, judiciously planted, and 
 masked by the small eminence which overhangs the 
 point of landing, would have produced terrible havoc 
 amongst our troops. I believe that three pieces, so 
 planted and masked, and served with grape and canister- 
 shot, would Lave placed at least 5000 of our men hors 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. 
 
 du combat, before they could have reached the position 
 which they were permitted to take unmolested. They 
 could have spiked their guns upon our advance, and 
 retired in perfect safety. To what are we to attribute 
 this supineness ? I cannot guess. General Scott may 
 have deceived them somewhat by his reconnoissances of 
 the 6th instant, in which he examined the coast to the 
 northward, as well as to the southward of the city ; but 
 this will not account for the matter, as half a dozen 
 guns upon each side of the city could form a considera- 
 tion of trifling importance to them in the way of de- 
 fence. But so it was. 
 
 The summary of events, from the disembarkation to 
 the surrender, is thus given by Colonel Totten : 
 
 March 9, 1847. — The disembarkation commenced. 
 
 March 13, 1847. — The investment is complete — two 
 mortars landed. 
 
 March 17, 1847. — Ten or twelve mortars w T ere on 
 shore to-day. 
 
 March 18, 1847. — Trenches opened at night. 
 
 March 22, 1847.— City summoned at two P. M., to 
 surrender ; and, on refusal, the fire w r as begun fron seven 
 mortars — afterwards increased to nine mortars. 
 
 March 24, 1847.— The naval battery of three thirty- 
 two pounders and three eight-inch paixhan guns began 
 its fire this morning. 
 
 March 25, 1847. — A battery of four twenty-four 
 pounders and two eight-inch howitzers opened to day. 
 
 March 26, 1847. — The enemy, early this morning, 
 commenced the negotiation for a surrender. 
 
 March 29, 1847. — Possession taken of both city and 
 castle — the garrisons marching out and laying down 
 their arms. 
 
COO SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 The trenches were open seven days. 
 
 The fire from our batteries was continued three and 
 a half days. 
 
 During the sixteen days that intervened between the 
 disembarkation of the troops and the opening of nego- 
 tiations, there were five days of violent " northers," in 
 which all landing of stores, &c, was interrupted. And, 
 during the seven days of open trenches, there were two 
 days and nights, in which it was impossible to undertake 
 any new works ; or even, by clearing the trenches and 
 batteries of large quantities of drifting sand, to arrest 
 the accumulating damage. 
 
 The official despatches of General Scott which fol- 
 low, fill up the above outline in the most satisfactory 
 manner, not only by a clear military detail of proceed- 
 ings ; but by the circumstance of his awarding praise 
 where it is due, to the gallant officers of the army. 
 
 Head-Quarters of the Army, Camp Washington, ) 
 before Vera Cruz : March 23 5 1847. j 
 
 Sir : Yesterday, seven of our ten-inch mortars being 
 in battery, and the labours for planting the remainder of 
 our heavy metal being in progress, I addressed, at two 
 o'clock P. M.j a summons to the governor of Vera 
 Cruz, and within the two hours limited by the bearer 
 of the flag, received the governor's answer. Copies of 
 the two papers, (marked respectively, A and B,) are 
 herewith enclosed. 
 
 It will be perceived that the governor, who it turns 
 out is the commander of both places, chose, against the 
 plain terms of the summons, to suppose me to have de- 
 manded the surrender of the castle and of the citv 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. 301 
 
 when, in fact, from the non-arrival of our heavy metal 
 — principally mortars — I was in no condition to threaten 
 the former. 
 
 On the return of the flag, with that reply, I at once 
 ordered the seven mortars, in battery, to open upon 
 the city. In a short time the smaller vessels of 
 Commodore Perry's squadron — two steamers and five 
 schooners — according to previous arrangement with him, 
 approached the city within about a mile and an eighth, 
 whence, being partially covered from the castle — an 
 essential condition to their safety — they also opened a 
 brisk fire upon the city. This has been continued, unin- 
 terruptedly, by the mortars, only with a few intermis- 
 sions, by the vessels, up to nine o'clock this morning, 
 when the commodore, very properly, called them off a 
 position too daringly assumed. 
 
 Our three remaining mortars are now (twelve o'clock, 
 M.) in battery, and the whole ten in activity. To- 
 morrow, early, if the city should continue obstinate, 
 batteries Nos. 4, and 5, will be ready to add their 
 fire : No. 4, consisting of four twenty-four pounders and 
 two eight-inch Paixhan guns, and No. 5 (naval battery), 
 of three thirty- two pounders and three eight-inch Paix- 
 hans — the guns, officers, and sailors landed from the 
 squadron — our friends of the navy being unremitting 
 in their zealous co-operation, in every mode and form. 
 
 So far, we know that our fire upon the city has been 
 highly effective — particularly from the batteries of ten- 
 inch mortars, planted at about 800 yards from the city. 
 Including the preparation and defence of the batteries, 
 from the beginning — now many days — and notwith- 
 standing the heavy fire of the enemy from city and 
 castle — we have only h ad four or five men woimded, and 
 one officer and one man killed, in or near the trenches. 
 
302 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 That officer was Captain John R. Vinton, of the United 
 States 3d artillery, one of the most talented, accom- 
 plished, and effective members of the arm)', 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 just attended his honoured 
 remains to a soldier's grave — in full view of the enemy 
 and within reach of his guns. 
 
 Thirteen of the long-needed mortars — leaving twenty- 
 seven, besides heavy guns, behind — have arrived, and 
 two of them landed. A heavy norther then set in (at 
 meridian) that stopped that operation, and also the land- 
 ing of shells. Hence the fire of our mortar batteries has 
 been slackened, since two o'clock, to-day, and cannot 
 be reinvigorated until we shall again have a smooth sea. 
 In the mean time I shall leave this report open for 
 journalizing events that may occur up to the departure 
 of the steam ship-of-war, Princeton, with Commodore 
 Conner, who, I learn, expects to leave the anchorage 
 off Sacrificios, for the United States, the 25th instant. 
 
 March 24. — The storm having subsided in the night, 
 we commenced this forenoon, as soon as the sea became 
 a little smooth, to land shot, shells, and mortars. 
 
 The naval battery, No. 5, was opened, with great 
 activity, under Captain Aulick, the second in ranic 
 of the squadron, at a.bout ten A. M. His nre was 
 continued to two o'clock P. M., a little before he was 
 relieved by Captain Mayo, who landed with a fresh 
 supply of ammunition — Captain A. having exhausted the 
 supply he had brought with him. He lost four sailors, 
 killed, and had one officer, Lieutenant Baldwin, slightly 
 hurt. 
 
 The mortar batteries, Nos. 1,2, and 3. have fired 
 
MA JOE GENERAL SCOTT. 303 
 
 Dut languidly during the day, for the want of shells, 
 which are now going out from the beach. 
 
 The two reports of Colonel Bankhead, chief of artil- 
 lery, both of this date, copies of which I enclose, give 
 the incidents of those three batteries. 
 
 Battery No. 4, which will mount four twenty-four 
 pounders and two eight-inch Paixhan guns, has 
 been much delayed in the hands of the indefatigable 
 engineers by the norther, that filled up the work with 
 sand nearly as fast as it could be opened by the half- 
 blinded labourers. It will, however, doubtless be in full 
 activity early to-morrow morning. 
 
 March 25. — The Princeton being about to start for 
 Philadelphia, I have but a moment to continue this re- 
 port. 
 
 All the batteries, Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5, are in awful 
 activity this morning. The effect is, no doubt, very 
 great, and I think the city cannot hold out beyond 
 to-day. To-morrow morning many of the new mortars 
 will be in a position to add their fire, when, or after the 
 delay of some twelve hours, if no proposition to sur- 
 render should be received, I shall organize parties for 
 carrying the city by assault. So far the defence has 
 been spirited and obstinate. 
 
 I enclose a copy of a memorial received last night, 
 signed by the consuls of Great Britain, France, Spain, 
 and Prussia, within Vera Cruz, asking me to grant a 
 truce to enable the neutrals, together with Mexican 
 women and children, to withdraw from the scene at 
 havoc about them. I shall reply, the moment that an 
 opportunity may be taken, to say — First. That a truce 
 can only be granted on the application of Governor 
 Morales, with a view to a surrender; Second. That in 
 sending safeguards to the different consuls, beginning 
 
304 SKETCH 9F THE LIFE OF 
 
 as far back as the 13th instant, I distinctly admonished 
 them, particularly the French and Spanish consuls- - 
 and, of course, through the two, the other consuls — of 
 the dangers that have followed ; Third. That although, 
 at that date, I had already refused to allow any person 
 whatsoever to pass the line of investment either way, 
 3 et the blockade had been left open to the consuls and 
 other neutrals to pass out to their respective ships of 
 war up to the 22d instant ; and, Fourth. I shall enclose 
 to the memorialists a copy of my summons to the go- 
 vernor, to show that I had fully considered the impend- 
 ing hardships and distresses of the place, including those 
 of women and children, before one gun had been fired 
 in that direction. The intercourse between the neutral 
 ships-of-war and the city was stopped at the last-men- 
 tioned date by Commodore Perry, with my concurrence, 
 which I placed on the ground that that intercourse 
 could not fail to give to the enemy moral aid and com- 
 fort. 
 
 It will be seen from the memorial, that our batteries 
 have already had a terrible effect on the city (also 
 known through other sources), and hence the inference 
 that a surrender must soon be proposed. In haste. 
 
 I have the honour to remain, sir, with high respect, 
 your most obedient servant, 
 
 WINFIELD SCOTT. 
 
 Hon. William L. Marcy, Secretary of War. 
 
 Head-Quarters of the Army. j 
 Vera Cruz, March 29, 1847. ) 
 
 Sir : The flag of the United States of America floats 
 triumphantly over the walls of this city, and the castle 
 of San Juan de Ulloa. 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. ;j(J5 
 
 Our troops have garrisoned both since ten o'clock. 
 It is now noon. Brigadier-General Worth is in com- 
 mand of the two places. 
 
 Articles of capitulation were signed and exchanged at 
 a late hour night before the last. I enclose a copy of 
 the document. 
 
 I have heretofore reported the principal incidents of 
 the siege, up to the 25th instant. Nothing of striking 
 interest occurred, until early in the morning of the next 
 day, when I received overtures from General Landero, 
 on whom General Morales has devolved the principal 
 command. A terrible storm of wind and sand made it 
 difficult to communicate with the city, and impossible to 
 refer to Commodore Perry. I was obliged to entertain 
 the proposition alone, or to continue the fire upon a 
 place that had shown a disposition to surrender ; for the 
 loss of a day, or perhaps several, could not be permitted. 
 The accompanying papers will show the proceedings 
 and results. 
 
 Yesterday, after the norther had abated, and the com- 
 missioners appointed by me early the morning before 
 had again met those appointed by General Landero 
 Commodore Perry sent ashore his second in command, 
 Captain Aulick, as a commissioner on the part of the 
 navy. Although not included in my specific arrange- 
 ment made with the Mexican commander, I did nol 
 hesitate, with proper courtesy, to desire that Captain 
 Aulick might be duly introduced and allowed to parti- 
 cipate in the discussions and acts of the commissioners 
 who had been reciprocally accredited. Hence the pre- 
 amble to his signature. The original American com- 
 missioners were, Brevet Brigadier-General Worth, Bri- 
 gadier- General Pillow, and Colonel Totten. Four more 
 able or judicious officers could not have been desired. 
 
306 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 I have time to add but little more. The remaining 
 details of the siege ; the able co-operation of the Uni- 
 ted States squadron, successively under the command 
 of Commodores Conner and Perry ; the admirable con- 
 duct of the whole army — regulars and volunteers — I 
 sh mid be happy to dwell upon as they deserve ; but the 
 steamer Princeton, with Commodore Conner on board, 
 is under way, and I have commenced organizing an 
 advance into the interior. This may be delayed a few 
 days, waiting the arrival of additional means of trans- 
 portation. In the mean time, a joint operation, by land 
 and water, will be made upon Alvarado. No laternal 
 expedition, however, shall interfere with the grand 
 movement towards the capital. 
 
 In consideration of the great services of Colonel 
 Totten, in the siege that has just terminated most suc- 
 cessfully, and the importance of his presence at Washi- 
 ngton, as the head of the engineer bureau, I intrust this 
 despatch to his personal care, and beg to commend him 
 to the very favourable consideration of the department. 
 
 I have the honour to remain, sir, with high respect, 
 your most obedient servant, 
 
 WINFIELD SCOTT. 
 Hon. W. L. Marcy, Secretary of War. 
 
 The following were the terms of surrender, finally 
 agreed upon by Generals Worth and Pillow, and Colonel 
 Totten, on the part of the Americans, and Villannuera, 
 Herrera, and Robles, on the part of the Mexicans. 
 
 1. The whole garrison, or garrisons, to be surren- 
 dered to the arms of the United States, as prisoners of 
 war, the 29th instant, at ten o'clock A. M. ; the garri- 
 sons to be permitted to march out w T ith all 'he honours 
 of war, and to lay down their arms to such officers as 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. 307 
 
 may be appointed by the general-in-chief of the United 
 States armies, and at a point to be agreed upon by the 
 commissioners. 
 
 2. Mexican officers shall preserve their arms and 
 private effects, including horses and horse furniture, and 
 to be allowed, regular and irregular officers, as also the 
 rafck and file, five days to retire to their respective 
 homes, on parole, as hereinafter prescribed. 
 
 3. Coincident with the surrender, as stipulated in 
 article 1, the Mexican flags of the various forts and 
 stations shall be struck, saluted by their own batteries ; 
 and, immediately thereafter, Forts Santiago and Con- 
 ception, and the castle of San Juan de Ulloa, occupied 
 by the forces of the United States. 
 
 4. The rank and file of the regular portion of the 
 prisoners to be disposed of after surrender and parole, 
 as their general-in-chief may desire, and the irregular to 
 be permitted to return to their homes. The officers, ii. 
 respect to all arms and descriptions of force, giving the 
 usual parole, that the said rank and file, as well as 
 themselves, shall not serve again until duly exchanged. 
 
 5. All the material of war, and all public property of 
 every description found in the city, the castle of San 
 Juan de Ulloa and their dependencies, to belong to the 
 United States ; but the armament of the same (not 
 injured or destroyed in the further prosecution of the 
 actual war) may be considered as liable to be restored 
 to Mexico by a definite treaty of psace. 
 
 6. The sick and wounded Mexicans to be allowed to 
 remain in the city, with such medical officers and attend- 
 ants, and officers of the army as may be necessary to 
 their care and treatment. 
 
 7. Absolute protection is solemnly guarantied to 
 persons in the city, and property, \nd it is clearly under' 
 
 40 
 
308 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 stood that no private building or property is to be taken 
 or used by the forces of the United States, without pre- 
 vious arrangement with the owners, and for a fair 
 equivalent. 
 
 8. Absolute freedom of religious worship and cere- 
 monies is solemnly guarantied. 
 
 CO-OPERATION OF THE NAVY IN THE SIEGE. 
 
 Our readers will recollect that on the arrival of Gene- 
 ral Scott at Vera Cruz, he was received and assisted in 
 his reconnoissance and landing by Commodore Conner. 
 Commodore Perry was sent out to supercede this gallant 
 officer, and arriving during the progress of the siege, he 
 received the transfer of the command of the home squad- 
 ron from Commodore Conner, on the 21st of March. On 
 the 24th, Commodore Conner sailed for the United 
 States, with Colonel Totten, as bearer of despatches to 
 the government. 
 
 The following despatches of Commodore Perry will 
 afford the reader a clear view of the extent to which the 
 navy contributed towards the triumph of our country's 
 arms on this brilliant occasion. Commodore Perry's 
 despatches are remarkably modest in feeling and terse 
 in expression. 
 
 Flag-ship Mississippi, } 
 Off Vera Cruz, March 25, 1847. J 
 
 Sir : The sailing of the Princeton this day for the 
 United States offers me an opportunity of informing the 
 department that General Scott had, on the 22d instant, 
 the day after I assumed command of the squadron, so 
 far completed the erection of his batteries in the rear of 
 Vera Cruz as to authorize the summoning of the city, 
 and on the refusal of the governor to surrender, of 
 opening his fire at three o'clock of tint day. 
 
MAJOB- GENERAL SCOTT. o()9 
 
 In conformity with arrangements made in the morn- 
 ing with General Scott, I direr ted the flotilla of small 
 I steamers and gun-boats of the squadron, led by Com- 
 mander J. Tatnall, in the Spitfire, to take a position 
 and commence a simultaneous fire upon the city. The 
 order was promptly and gallantly executed, and the fire 
 was kept up with great animation until late in the even- 
 
 On visiting them at their position, I found that the 
 two steamers had nearly exhausted their ammunition, 
 but having received a fresh supply during the night from 
 this ship, they at sunrise moved to a more favourable 
 and advanced point, and resumed and continued their 
 fire until recalled by signal. 
 
 At the earnest desire of myself and officers, General 
 Scott generously assigned a position in the trenches to be 
 mounted with guns from the squadron, and worked by 
 seamen. Three eight-inch Paixhans and three long thirty- 
 two pounders (all that was required), were consequently 
 landed, and after immense labour in transporting them 
 through the sand, in which parties from the divisions of 
 Generals Patterson, Worth, and Pillow, respectively 
 detached by tirose officers, cheerfully participated, the 
 pieces were placed in position and opened upon the city 
 about ten o'clock yesterday, immediately drawing upon 
 them a sharp fire from the enemy, which in a short time 
 killed and wounded ten of the detachment from the 
 squadron. 
 
 In order to give all a chance to serve in the trenches, 
 for the honour of which there is a great, though generous 
 strife, I have arranged that detachments from each ship 
 in charge respectively of lieutenants, and the whole 
 commanded by a captain or commander, shall be relieved 
 every twenty-four hours. Captain Aulick, assisted by 
 
310 SKETCH CM THE LIFE OF 
 
 Commander Mackenzie, and several lieutenants, had the 
 direction of mounting the guns and opening the fire, 
 and well and bravely was the duty performed. Captain 
 Mayo is now in charge and will be relieved in turn. 
 
 The Ohio arrived on the 22d instant, but in conse- 
 quence of a norther, did not reach her proper anchorage 
 until yesterday afternoon. Detachments of boats from 
 all the vessels are employed night and day in landing 
 from the transports the stores and munitions of the army. 
 
 Enclosed is the list of killed and wounded ascertained 
 up to this hour (twelve meridian), with the report of 
 Captain Aulick ; also a list of the small vessels com- 
 prising the flotilla of the squadron, all of which were 
 engaged on the 22d instant. 
 
 I have the honour to be your most obedient servant, 
 
 M. C. PERRY, 
 Commanding Home Squadron. 
 Hon. John Y. Mason, Secretary of the Navy, ) 
 Washington City. D. C. j 
 
 Friday, March 27, 1847. 
 
 Sir : The detention of the Princeton enables me to 
 inform the department of events up to this hour, (ten 
 A. M.) 
 
 Captain Mayo and his party have returned, having 
 been relieved in the batteries by a detachment under 
 Captain Breese. I hardly need assure the department 
 that the party under Captain Mayo sustained, with una- 
 bated courage and spirit, the admirable fire of the nava 
 battery. The bombardment from the trenches was con- 
 tinued through the night. A heavy norther now blow- 
 ing (the third in five days), has prevented communica- 
 tion with the shore since last evening. Several merchant 
 vessels have been thrown, this morning, ashore by the 
 gale. 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. 311 
 
 The report of Captain Mayo is enclosed, as also an 
 additional list of killed and wounded. Among the 
 names of the killed, will be found that of Midshipman 
 T. B. Shubrick, a most amiable and promising young 
 officer. 
 
 I have the honour to he your very obedient servant, 
 
 M. C. PERRY, 
 Commanding Home Squadron 
 Hon. John Y. Mason, Secretary of the Navy, 
 Washington City, D. C. 
 
 Sunday , March 28, 1847. 
 Sir : I am happy to inform you that the city and 
 castle of Vera Cruz surrendered yesterday to the com- 
 bined force of the army and navy of the United States, 
 on terms highly favourable to us. 
 
 With high respect, your obedient servant, 
 
 M. C. PERRY, 
 Commanding Home Squadron. 
 Hon. John Y. Mason, Secretary of the Navy. 
 
 Enclosed is an informal copy of terms of capitula- 
 tion. M. C. P. 
 
 Before attempting to follow the subsequent movements 
 of General Scott, we must pause for a few moments to 
 notice the ceremonies which attended the final surrender 
 of Vera Cruz to the American arms. This scene was 
 remarkable, and must have been highly gratifying to 
 General Scott and his brave companions, who had so 
 gloriously accomplished a signal triumph for their 
 country. 
 
 On the 29th of March, the ceremonies of laying down 
 
 their arms and formally delivering up to the conquerors 
 
 the city and castle of Vera Cruz, were performed by the 
 
 Mexicans. The spot selected for the ceremonv of lay- 
 
 20 
 
.i-TCH OF Tilt U 
 
 ing down arms was a plain near the city. The American 
 army was drawn up in two lines facing inwards, occupy- 
 ing a mile in extent. General Worth appea-red on the 
 field in full uniform to direct the arrangements, and 
 receive the conquered troops. At ten o'clock the 
 Mexicans marched out to the strains of their national 
 music, the bugle, fife, and drum, passing between the 
 American lines. Women and children accompanied the 
 troops, bearing heavy burdens. 
 
 The Mexican army halted between the American lines, 
 stacked their arms, laid down their colours and equip- 
 ments, and then marched off, while a portion of General 
 Worth's division marched into the city with colours fly 
 ing, and the military bands playing national airs. 
 
 After the surrender, General Worth was appointed 
 governor of Vera Cruz, and occupied it with a part of 
 his brigade. He forthwith entered upon the duties of 
 his office, and commenced establishing a strict police, 
 and repressing every ten-dency to disorder. The port 
 was soon opened to the commerce of the whole world, 
 and a tariff of duties published. 
 
 After the fall of Vera Cruz, General Scott, having 
 made the necessary dispositions for garrisoning the 
 place, took up his line of march with the main body 
 of the army for the city of Mexico. General Twiggs's 
 division formed the van-guard, and those of Worth and 
 Patterson followed several days after. 
 
 On the 17th of April the army approached the cele- 
 brated pass of Cerro Gcrdo, always reputed to be 
 impregnable, and which was now strongly fortif*>d, 
 with seven batteries so arranged as to protect each 
 other. The position was held by General Santa Anna, 
 a host of other Mexican generals, and the flower of 
 the national army, 20,000 strong. They were ex- 
 pected to make a desperate stand against the 12,000 
 Americans who were advancing towards tht capital. 
 
M.A JOB.- GENERAL SCOTT. 313 
 
 General Scott having reconnoitred the enemy's 
 position, instantly decided on his plan of operations, 
 which is exhibited in the following order. The pre- 
 cision with which it was executed will render this 
 Order No. Ill celebrated in history. 
 
 Bead-Quarters of the Army. ) 
 Plain Del Rio, April 17. 1847. ' | 
 (General Orders No. 111.) 
 
 The enemy's whole line of intrenchments and bat- 
 teries will be attacked in front, and at the same time 
 turned early in the day to-morrow — probably before 
 ten o'clock A. M. 
 
 The second (Twiggs's) division of regulars is already 
 advanced within easy turning distance towards the. 
 enemy's left. That division has orders to move for- 
 ward before daylight to-morrow, and take up position 
 across the National Road to the enemy's rear, so as to 
 cut off a retreat towards Jalapa. It may be reinforced 
 to-day, if unexpectedly attacked in force, by regi- 
 ments, — one or two taken from Shields's brigade of 
 volunteers. — If not, the two volunteer regiments will 
 march for that purpose at daylight to-morrow morning, 
 under Brigadier-General Shields, who will report to 
 Brigadier-General Twiggs on getting up with him, 01 
 the general-in-chief, if he be in advance. 
 
 The remaining regiment of that volunteer brigade 
 will receive instructions in the course of this day. 
 
 The first division of regulars (Worth's) will follow 
 the movement against the enemy's left at sunrise to- 
 morrow morning. 
 
 As already arranged, Brigadier-General Pillow's bri- 
 gade will march at six o'clock to-morrow morning 
 along the route he has carefully reconnoitred, and stand 
 
314 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 right — sooner, if circumstances should favour him — to 
 pierce the enemy's line of batteries at such point — the 
 nearer the river the better — as he may select. Once in 
 the rear of that line, he will turn to the right or left, 
 or both, and attack the batteries in reverse, or if aban- 
 doned, he with pursue the enemy with vigour until 
 further orders. 
 
 Wall's field-battery and the cavalry will be held in 
 reserve on the National Road, a little out of view and 
 range of the enemy's batteries. They will take up 
 that position at nine o'clock in the morning. 
 
 The enemy's batteries being carried or abandoned, 
 all our divisions and corps will pursue with vigour. 
 
 This pursuit may be continued many miles, until 
 stopped by darkness or fortified positions towards 
 Jalapa. Consequently, the body of the army will not 
 return to this encampment, but be followed to-morrow 
 afternoon, or early the next morning, by the baggage 
 trains for the several corps. For this purpose, the 
 feebler officers and men of each corps will be left to 
 guard its camp and effects, and to load up the latter in 
 the wagons of the corps. 
 
 As soon as it shall be known that the enemy's work? 
 have been carried, or that the general pursuit has been 
 commenced, one wagon for each regiment, andr one for the 
 cavalry, will follow the movement, to receive, under 
 the directions of medical officers, the wounded and 
 disabled, who will be brought back to this place for 
 treatment in the general hospital. 
 
 The surgeon-general will organize this important 
 service and designate that hospital, as well as the 
 medical officers tc be left at that place. 
 
 Every man who marches out to attack or pursue the 
 
MAJOIl-GKNERAL SCOTT. 315 
 
 enemy will take the usual allowance of ammunition, 
 and subsistence for at least two days. 
 
 By command of Major-General Scott, 
 
 H. L. SCOTT, A. A. A. General. 
 
 Such was the order. The despatch relating its exact 
 fulfilment followed with that perfect military order for 
 ^hich General Scott has become celebrated. 
 
 Head-Quarters of the Army, \ 
 
 Plain del Rio, 50 miles from Vera Cruz, \ 
 
 April 19. 1847. ) 
 
 Sir : The plan of attack sketched in general orders 
 No. Ill, herewith, was finely executed by this gallant 
 army, before two o'clock P. M. yesterday. We are 
 quite embarrassed with the results of victory — prisoners 
 of war, heavy ordnance, field-batteries, small arms, 
 and accoutrements. About 3000 men laid down their 
 arms, with the usual proportion of field and company 
 officers, besides five generals, several of them of great 
 distinction : Pinson, Jarrero, La Vega, Noriega, and 
 Obando. A sixth general, Vasquez, was killed in 
 defending the battery (tower) in the rear of the whole 
 Mexican army, the capture of which gave us those 
 glorious results. 
 
 Our loss, though comparatively small in numbers, 
 has been serious. Brigadier-General Shields, a com- 
 mander of activity, zeal, and talent, is, I fear, if not 
 dead, mortally wounded. He is some miles from me 
 at the moment. The field of operations covered many 
 miles, broken by mountains and deep chasms, and I 
 have not a report, as yet, from any division or brigade. 
 Twiggs's division, followed by Shields's (now Colonel 
 Baker's) brigade, are now at or near Jalapa, and Worth's 
 division is in route thither, all pursuing, with good 
 
31G SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 results, as I learn, that part of the Mexican army — 
 perhaps 6000 or 7000 men, who fled before our right had 
 carried the tower, and gained the Jalapa road. Pil- 
 low's brigade, alone, is near me, at this depot of 
 wounded, sick, and prisoners, and I have time only to 
 jrive from him the names of 1st Lieutenant F. B. Nel- 
 son, and 2d C. C. Gill, both of the 2d Tennessee foot 
 (Haskell's regiment), among the killed, and in the bri- 
 gade 106, of all ranks, killed or wounded. Among the 
 latter, the gallant brigadier himself has a smart wound 
 in the arm, but not disabled, and Major R. Farqueson, 
 2d Tennessee; Captain H. F. Murray, 2d Lieutenant 
 G. T. Sutherland, 1st Lieutenant W. P. Hale (adju 
 tant), all of the same regiment, severely, and 1st Lieu- 
 tenant W. Yearwood, mortally wounded. And I know, 
 from personal observation on the ground, that 1st 
 Lieutenant Ewell, of the rifles, if not now dead, was 
 mortally wounded, in entering, sword in hand, the 
 mtrenchments around the captured tower. Second 
 Lieutenant Derby, Topographical Engineers, I also 
 saw, at the same place, severely wounded, and Captain 
 Patton, 2d United States infantry, lost his right hand. 
 
 Major Sumner, 2d United States dragoons, was 
 slightly wounded the day before, and Captain Johnston, 
 Topographical Engineers — now lieutenant-colonel of 
 infantry — was very severely wounded some days earlier, 
 \*hile reconnoitering. 
 
 I must not omit to add that Captain Mason and 
 2d Lieutenant Davis, both of the rifles, were among 
 the very severely wounded in storming the same tower. 
 I estimate our total loss in killed and wounded, may be 
 about 250, and that of the enemy 350. In the pursuit 
 towards Jalapa (twenty-five miles hence), I learn we 
 pave added much to the enemy's loss in prisoners, killed, 
 
MAJOR-GENKRAI. SCOTT. .317 
 
 and wounded. In fact, I suppose his retreating army to 
 be nearly disorganized, and hence my haste, to follow, 
 in an hour or two, to profit by events. 
 
 In this hurried and imperfect report, I must not omit 
 to say that Brigadier-General Twiggs, in passing the 
 
 " mountain range beyond Cerro Gordo, crowned with the 
 tower, detached from his division, as I suggested before, 
 a strong force to carry that height, which commanded 
 the Jalapa load at the foot, and could not fail, if carried, 
 to cut off the whole, or any part of the enemy's forces 
 from a reheat in any direction. A portion of the first 
 artillery, under the often distinguished Brevet Colonel 
 Childs, the 3d infantry, under Captain Alexander, the 
 7th infantry, under Lieutenant-Colonel Plymton, and 
 the rffles, under Major Loring, all under the temporary 
 command of Colonel Harney, 2d dragoons, during the 
 confinement to his bed of Brevet Brigadier-General 
 P. F. Smiui, composed that detachment. The style of 
 execution, which I had the pleasure to witness, was 
 most brilliant and decisive. The brigade ascended the 
 long and difficult slope of Cerro Gordo, without shelter, 
 and under the tremendous fire of artillery and musketry, 
 with the utmost steadiness, reached the breastworks, 
 drove the enemy from them, planted the colours of the 
 1st artillery, 3d and 7th infantry — the enemy's flag 
 still flying — and, after some minutes of sharp firing, 
 
 i finished the conquest with the bayonet. 
 
 It is it most pleasing duty to say that the highest 
 praise is due to Harney, Childs, Plymton, Loring, 
 Alexander, their gallant officers and men, for this bril- 
 liant service, independent of the great result which soon 
 followed. 
 
 Wortn's division of regulars coming up at this time, 
 he detach p ?evet Lieutenant-Colonel C. V. Sm'th, 
 
318 SKETCH OS THE LI IE OF 
 
 with his light battalion, to support the assault, but not 
 in time. The general, reaching the tower a few 
 minutes before me, and observing a white flag displayed 
 from the nearest portion of the enemy towards the bat- 
 teries below, sent out Colonels Harney and Childs to hold 
 a parley. The surrender followed in an hour or two. 
 
 Major-General Patterson left a sick bed to share in 
 the dangers and fatigues of the day ; and after the sur- 
 render went forward to command the advanced forces 
 towards Jalapa. 
 
 Brigadier-General Pillow and his brigade twice 
 assaulted with great daring the enemy's line of batteries 
 on our left ; and though without success, they contributed 
 much to distract and dismay their immediate opponents 
 
 President Santa Anna, with Generals Canalizo and 
 Almonte, and some six or eight thousand men, escaped 
 towards Jalapa just before Cerro Gordo was carried, 
 and before Twiggs's division reached the National Road 
 above. 
 
 I have determined to parole the prisoners — officers 
 and men — as I have not the means of feeding them 
 here, beyond to-day, and cannot afford to detach a 
 heavy body of horse and foot, with wagons, to accom- 
 pany them to Vera Cruz. Our baggage train, though 
 increasing, is not half large enough to give an assured 
 progress to this army. Besides, a greater number of 
 prisoners would, probably, escape from the escort in the 
 long and deep sandy road, without subsistence — ten to 
 one — that we shall find again, out of the same body of 
 men, in the ranks opposed to us. Not one of the Vera 
 Cruz prisoners is believed to have been in the lines of 
 Cerro Gordo. Some six of the officers, highest in rank, 
 refuse to give their paroles, except to go to Vera Cruz, 
 and thence, perhaps, to the United States. 
 
MAJOfc-GENERAL SCOTT. 319 
 
 The small arms and their accoutrements, being of no 
 Blue to our army here or at home, I have ordered 
 .o be destroyed, for we have not the means of trans- 
 iting them. I am, also, somewhat embarrassed with 
 
 .he pieces of artillery — all bronze — which we 
 
 nave captured. It will take a brigade, and half the 
 mules of this army, to transport them fifty miles. A 
 field-battery I shall take for service with the army; 
 but the heavy metal must be collected, and left here 
 for the present. We have our own siege train and the 
 proper carnages with us. 
 
 Being much occupied with the prisoners, and all the 
 details of a forward movement, besides looking to the 
 lupplies which are to follow from Vera Cruz, I have 
 time to add no more — intending to be at Jalapa early 
 to-morrow. We shall not, probably, again meet with 
 serious opposition this side of Perote — certainly not, 
 unless delayed by the want of transportation. 
 
 I have the honour to remain, sir, with high respect, 
 your most obedient servant, 
 
 WINFIELD SCOTT. 
 
 P. S. I invite attention to the accompanying lette' 
 to President Santa Anna, taken in his carriage yester 
 day ; also to his proclamation, issued on hearing we 
 had captured Vera Cruz, &c , in which he says: — " If 
 the enemy advance one step more, the national inde- 
 pendence will be buried in the abyss of the past." We 
 have taken that step. W. S. 
 
 I make a second postscript, to say that there is some 
 hope, I am happy to learn, that General Shields may 
 survive his wounds. 
 
 One of the principal motives for paroling the pri- 
 soners of war is, to diminish the resistances of other 
 garrisons in our march. 
 
 Hon. Wm, L. Marcy Secretary of War. 
 
320 .SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 General Twiggs advanced with his division and 
 captured Jalapa on the 19th of April, and on the 22d 
 of the same month Perote was occupied by the division 
 of General Worth. General Scott with the main army 
 soon followed General Twiggs to Jalapa. 
 
 Puebla w r as occupied by General Worth on the 15th 
 of May, and soon after became the head-quarters of 
 General Scott. 
 
 On the 8th of June, about two hundred and fifty 
 men and a small train of artillery, under Captain Bain- 
 bridge, left Jalapa to reinforce Colonel Mcintosh, who 
 had been attacked by the Mexicans. Near the National 
 Bridge, a party was fired upon, five killed and a wagon 
 captured. The whole command soon after arrived at 
 the encampment of Colonel Mcintosh. The next day 
 they were joined by Captain Duperus' dragoons, and 
 resumed their march to Vera Cruz. Having a long 
 train to guard, the captain halted at Santa Fe, where he 
 was charged by a greatly superior force, and lost some 
 wagons, together with the. wagoners. His men, how- 
 ever, fought gallantly, repulsed the enemy with loss, 
 and pushed on to Vera Cruz. 
 
 On the same day that Bainbridge left Colonel Mcin- 
 tosh's camp, General Cadwalader arrived with a force 
 of eight hundred men and two howitzers, and inarched 
 toward the bridge. On arriving near some heights in 
 its vicinity, he was attacked by a large force of the 
 Mexicans posted on the ridges and in the chapparal, and 
 a battle ensued which lasted several hours. The enemy, 
 however, was repulsed, and the heights on the right and 
 left were carried. In this affair General Cadwalader 
 lost fifteen men killed, and between thirty and forty 
 wounded. The Mexican loss was upwards of one hun- 
 dred. 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT. 321 
 
 The city of Puebla became the main depot of the 
 American army until the 8th of August, when General 
 Scott broke up his camp and advanced towards the 
 capital. On the 12th he reached Ayotla, immediately 
 on the borders of the Mexican valley. Some days 
 were spent in reconnoitring the fortifications of Penon, 
 which commanded a rocky defile of the road, and had 
 been constructed with immense labor. The attempt to 
 force a passage by this position would have occasioned 
 an immense sacrifice of lives ; and a reconnoissance of the 
 neighboring country being ordered, a practicable but 
 difficult passage w T as discovered, leading round in a 
 westerly direction, south of lake Chalco, to San Augus- 
 tin. The march to the latter place by this new route 
 was immediately ordered, and it proved a severe one for 
 the troops. It being the rainy season, the roads were 
 either completely submerged, or rendered almost im- 
 passable by mud. 
 
 General Scott reached the city of San Augustin on 
 the 18th, and immediately ordered a reconnoissance of the 
 enemy at San Antonio. The approach of night, and a 
 heavy shower of rain, rendered it impracticable to attack 
 the fort that night. Early on the following morning he 
 ordered Generals Pillow and Twiggs to commence an 
 attack on Contreras. During the march, the detach- 
 ment of these officers encountered a large body of Mexi- 
 ! can cavalry, which were speedily repulsed ; and at noon 
 the attack on the fort commenced. The general-in- 
 chief was present and under fire during the whole after- 
 noon, being engaged in superintending every important 
 arrangement. Both parties fought with great anima- 
 tion ; but the approach of night suspended, for a few 
 hours, the operations against Contreras. 
 
 After sunset General Scott left orders to renew the at- 
 
322 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 tack at three o'clock in the morning, and retired to San 
 Augustin. He passed the night exposed, like the com- 
 mon soldier, to the pouring rain, without any other 
 covering than his uniform. At an early hour on the 20th, 
 he set out for the scene of action, accompanied by Gen- 
 eral Worth. On the road he received information that 
 the fort had been carried by Twiggs and Pillow, in con- 
 sequence of which he sent back General Worth, and 
 proceeded, with only a small escort, to Contreras. His 
 arrival was greeted by soldiers and officers in that enthu- 
 siastic style, which evinces the unbounded popularity of 
 the general-in-chief, as w T ell as the confidence of the 
 troops in his courage and ability. 
 
 The army now commenced a rapid pursuit of the 
 enemy, who had halted at San Angel. On arriving at 
 that place a heavy fire was heard from General Worth's 
 division, and in a few T minutes it was ascertained that 
 the troops under the conduct of that able officer, had 
 stormed and carried the strong fort at San Antonio. 
 
 About this time General Scott attacked San Pablo, 
 where an action was maintained for two hours with 
 greater vigour and determination on both sides than had 
 been exhibited on any previous occasion. The batteries 
 of the enemy discharged grape and canister like hail, 
 and the fire of the American infantry w^as one continual 
 volley. Captain Taylor's battery, after losing two offi- 
 cers, a large number of men, and half the horses, was 
 obliged to retire. But the enemy, although behind in- 
 trenchments and defended by heavy guns, could not 
 withstand the valour and impetuosity of our troops. The 
 place w r as carried by assault ; and the whole armament 
 and a great number of prisoners were taken. 
 
 Meantime General Worth had pursued them into their 
 last stronghold at Churubusco, which he captured after 
 
MAJOR-GEN'KRAL SCOTT. 
 
 323 
 
 a vigorous struggle. This ended the labours of the day. 
 Santa Anna, on the fall of Churubusco, fled clear 
 through Mexico, and sought shelter at Guadalupe. 
 
 Early on the morning of the 21st, a flag of truce 
 was despatched to the camp of General Scott by Gene- 
 ral Santa Anna, ostensibly for the purpose of settling 
 the preliminaries of peace, but really for the purpose of 
 gaining time and raising reinforcements. General Scott, 
 influenced by considerations which, for want of his 
 official despatches, do not clearly appear, granted the 
 armistice. Three commissioners on the part of the 
 Americans, and two on the part of the Mexicans, were 
 appointed to arrange its terms, who, on the 23d of Au- 
 gust, presented the result of their deliberations to the 
 general-in-chief, by whom it was approved and signed. 
 The principal items of the armistice were — a suspen- 
 sion of all hostilities until after forty-eight hours' notice 
 to the contrary, from either of the commanders ; that 
 neither army should be reinforced during the truce ; that 
 free passage should be given on both sides for the car- 
 riage of provisions or other necessaries for the troops ; 
 that an immediate exchange of prisoners should take 
 place ; and that negotiations for a permanent peace 
 should immediately commence. 
 
 In the battles of the 19th and 20th, the force of the 
 enemy was more than thirty-two thousand men. Their 
 loss was in proportion, including thirteen generals, five 
 ex-presidents, and several thousand troops ; besides im- 
 mense stores of artillery, ammunition, and equipage. 
 The total number of the Americans was rather more 
 than seven thousand, of whom they lost eleven hundred. 
 General Scott was slightly wounded in the knee. 
 
 In the negotiations carried on during the armistice, 
 Mr. Trist, the American commissioner, offered the fol- 
 
324 SKETCH OF THE LIFE OF 
 
 lowing terms of peace : That the United States shouhi 
 not demand any indemnification from Mexico for the 
 expenses of the war ; that the boundary line should 
 commence at the mouth of the Rio Grande, and pass 
 across the continent so as to include California ; that, in 
 consideration of this cession of territory, the United States 
 should pay a certain sum of money, the amount not spe- 
 cified ; the United States to pay all claims of her own 
 citizens against Mexico ; the United States to have the 
 navigation of the isthmus of Tehuantepec; and other 
 terms of minor importance. 
 
 On the other hand, the Mexican negotiators re- 
 quired : The return of all towns, forts, and artillery 
 captured during the war ; the .boundary of the river 
 Nueces and the present frontier of Mexico on the north, 
 excepting about five degrees of the northernmost and 
 most worthless part of California ; and a sum of money 
 to be paid to Mexico for the grant of this precious 
 piece of territory. Other terms, equally inadmissible, 
 conclude the offer of the Mexicans, and evince that the 
 proposal for a treaty was a mere pretext for gaining 
 time. 
 
 On the 6th of September, General Scott accused 
 Santa Anna of violating the armistice, by refusing the 
 passage of supplies for the American army through the 
 city. The Mexican commander replied by complaining 
 of a breach of the truce on the part of General Scott ; 
 and hostilities recommenced in earnest. 
 
 On the 8th, a division of the American army encoun- 
 tered four Mexican regiments, under General Leon, be- 
 fore Chapultepec, which were defeated, after a severe 
 contest, in which General Worth was wounded. 
 
 The subsequent accounts from the seat of war, chiefly 
 from Mexican papers and letters, bring news of the most 
 
MAJOR-GENERAL SCOTT, 325 
 
 important and thrilling interest. It appears that during 
 the armistice, and in direct violation of its terms, the 
 enemy, both soldiers and citizens, had secretly con- 
 veyed into the city a large supply of arms, ammunition, 
 and provisions ; all of which were employed in supply- 
 ing the fortress of Chapultepec. 
 
 On the afternoon of the 8th, a portion of General 
 Scott's army attacked the Mille del Rey, and after an 
 obstinate resistance carried it at the point of the bayonet. 
 The Mexicans retreated towards Chapultepec, leaving 
 behind them large quantities of ammunition, small arms, 
 and several pieces of cannon. 
 
 The loss of the Americans in this assault was severe ; 
 and being twice repulsed before the final charge, inspired 
 the Mexicans with the greatest confidence in their own 
 skill and prowess. Proclamations were issued, announc- 
 ing the so styled victory to the citizens of Mexico, and 
 calling upon all to rally for a final struggle at Chapultepec. 
 Breastworks were constructed between this fortress and 
 the city, while such arrangements were made near the 
 aqueducts as to afford shelter to skirmishers posted 
 there to fire upon the Americans. 
 
 At daybreak on the 13th, the whole American force 
 attacked Chapultepec, and a battle was fought, more 
 severe than even that of Churubusco. They were at 
 first repulsed, but in a little while repeated the attack, 
 and, after a severe contest of six hours, carried the 
 fortress. 
 
 In this affair the Mexicans acknowledge a loss of 
 three hundred men, and assign an equally heavy one to 
 the Americans. During the afternoon Santa Anna caused 
 a number of trenches to be cut across the road and 
 flooded with water, in order to impede the expected 
 advance of our army toward the capital. Troops were 
 
326 SKETCH OF THE LIEE OF SCOTT. 
 
 stationed along the aqueducts, upon the walls of Mexico, 
 and the roofs of houses ; and numbers of the citizens 
 armed themselves with stones and other missiles, in 
 order to resist the enemy. 
 
 Immediately after the fall of Chapultepec, the Ame- 
 ricans advanced to another strong fortification near the 
 citadel. Their progress was for some time checked by 
 the Mexicans under Santa Anna, who disputed the 
 ground inch by inch ; but they were finally repulsed, 
 and the citadel itself carried after several hours' hard 
 fighting. The captured guns were turned upon the city, 
 and General Scott immediately commenced preparations 
 for its bombardment. 
 
 In order to avoid the terrible effects which would 
 follow this measure, Santa Anna determined to abandon 
 the city. Accordingly he retired to Guadalupe, with 
 ten thousand troops, twenty-five pieces of artillery, and 
 a quantity of stores ; leaving the capital he had sworn to 
 protect, in the hands of an enemy. 
 
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