Page:The New International Encyclopædia 1st ed. v. 13.djvu/439

MEXICAN WAR. 403 MEXICAN WAR. nine miles from jMatamoios, known as Palo Alto. Taylor's force numbered -2:0)0 olKcers and men and ten guns. After a tiglit of four hours (see P.4LO Alto), Arista fell back to Kesaca de la Piilnia, with a loss of 252. The American easual- ties comprised 7 killed and 47 wounded. On the following day Taylor continued his march. Ar- riving in front of the ile.xican position, a low ridge commanding the road to ilataraoros, the Americans paused to reconnoitre. On ac- count of the dense 'chaparral,' movements en masse were impacticable, and the infantry were deployed as skirmishers, with the artillery, supported by the dragoons, remaining on the road. Arista had been reenforced during the night by 2000 infantry. As on the day before, an artillery duel ensued, and the Mexican batteries held the Americans at bay for some time, imtil Taylor sent a squadron of dragoons under Captain .May. who gallantly charged, taking the guns, together with the Jlexican general. La Vega, at the cost, however, of 1 officer, and 7 men killed, and 10 men wounded. Upon this the enemy gave wa.v and fled from the field, pursued by the Americans, who made man,- captures, includ- ing 14 ofhcers, 8 pieces of artillery, and several standards. The Mexicans, in confu- sion, retired to Matamoros, many being drowned in crossing the river. Arista's losses were esti- mated at 1000 men. of whom 200 «ere left dead upon the battle-field. On May 17th Arista evacu- ated Matamoros. and on the following day Tay- lor cros.sed the Pao Orande and took possession. Previously, on May 11th, President Polk had sent to Congress his famous war message, in which he enumerated the wrongs committed by Mexico against the United States, and, ignoring Mexico's reasonable claim to the country between the Nueces and the Rio (irande, asserted that "Mexi- co has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory, and shed American Idood upon American soil." Two days later Con- gress issued a formal declaration of war, and threw the onus of striking the first blow upon Mexico. The ensuing three months were utilized by both sides in raising additional troops. Con- gress authorized a call for ;i0.000 volunteers, and the regular army was increased to .30,000. On August 10th Taylor marched with 6700 men (including volunteers) upon !Montere.v. which was held by Ampudia with 10.000 men. Previous to his arrival before Monterey, liowever. Santa . na (q.v. ) had subverted the Government of Paredes. and had estal)lishpd himself in power. The American arm,v arrived in front of the town September Iflth. attacked on the 21st. and after three da,vs of severe fighting the defenses were taken by assault, and the Mexican general capitu- lated, being permitted to march out 'with the lionors of war,' and an armistice of eight weeks lieing agreed upon. ( See Monterey. Battle of. ) The .Mexican losses were estimated at nearly loot); the American at 488. General Scott with- ilrew from Taylor the greater part of his army and instructed Taylor to establish his head- (piarters at Monterey and refrain from further offensive operations. Through captured dis- patches Santa . na learned of Taylor's de- pleted force, and quietly n<lyanced upon the American position near Saltillo with 20.000 effec- tives. Taylor's scouts informed him of this in time for him to complete his dispositions for bat- tle. With 4001 men, including several regiments of newly enlisted volunteers, he awaited Santa Anna at Angostura, near Saltillo and on the road to San Luis de Potosf. The engagement which followed, known as the battle of Buena Vista (([.v.), lasted two days (February 22 and 23, 1847), and more than once the result seemed doubtful, the panic which seized certain regi- ments of Taylor's volunteers being counter- balanced by the steadiness of the regulars, the ellective work of the light batteries, and the gallantry of the Mississippi regiment under Col. Jelierson Davis, afterwards President of the Southern Confederacy. Notwithstanding the nu- merical superiority of the Jlexican army, the obstinacy of the defense eventually won, and San- ta Anna was forced to withdraw with 2500 killed and wounded and nearly 4000 missing, of vhom the greater number had deserted during the battle. The American casualties comprised 204 killed and 450 wounded. Soon afterwards (general Tay- lor returned home on leave of absence. While the campaign in Northern Mexico vvaa thus progressing, the United States sent expedi- tions into New Mexico and California. Within three months the American flag had been hoisted at Santa Fe, the navy had planted the flag at San Francisco, and seaports on the west coast of Mexico were blockaded. On March 9. 1847, Scott began to land his force (12,000 men) at Vera Cruz, with materials for a siege. By the 22d the investment of the city was complete, and a formal demand for sur- render was made, which met with prompt re- fusal. For four days the besiegers bombarded the city and the Castle of San Juan de Ulua, their fire being replied to with spirit, but on the 25th the foreign consuls used their influence in the interests of non-combatants and to secure the burial of the dead, and a suspension of hostili- ties ensued. On the 29th the city surrendered. (See Ver. Cruz.) After a brief interval the Americans pushed on toward their goal. At the same time Santa Anna, having reorganized his army, marched with more than 12,00() men from the City of Jlexico. At Cerro Gordo (q.v.) . a pass in the mountains, GO miles from Vera Cruz, he awaited the invaders, about 8.500 strong. On the 14th of April Scott arrived and on the 18th attacked. Although stoutl,v resisted, by noon the Americans had swept over Cerro Gordo and driven the Mexicans down the road for ten miles. The spoils comprised 3000 prison- ers, including 5 generals, and 40 bronze cannon. The casualties on the Mexican side were fnll,y 1000; on the American side. 431. The advance to Puebla was only sliglitly opposed, and on May 15th Worth's division of 4000 men encam]ied in the C4rand Pla^a of this 'City of the Angels.' in the midst of 60,000 hostile citizens. 75 miles from the IMexican capital. On the 17th Scott nmde a flnal appeal to the Mexicans in the interest of peace, but in the imbittered state of popular feeling it failed. On the contrary. Santa Anna strained every means for the defense of his capital : he appealed to the patriotism of the people, money was freely contributed, and almost every able-bodied man was enrolled for the com- mon defense, until 36.000 men and 100 pieces of artillery were in readiness. Sickness and the dis- charge of seven regiments of volunteers had re- duced Scott's army, but the arrival of 2400 men under General Pierce (afterwards President of